🔗 Share this article The casualties continued piling up - reporter shares fatal Rio police raid The photographer Dozens of bodies were displayed in an open area in northern Rio after the most lethal operation Rio has ever seen An eyewitness who observed the aftermath of a massive Brazilian police operation in the metropolitan area has reported how residents returned with mutilated bodies of the deceased individuals. The victims "kept piling up: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the eyewitness reported. Among them were those of police officers. A particular victim was found without a head - additional victims were "severely damaged", he explained. Numerous victims displayed evidence of stab wounds. More than 120 people were fatally injured during the security action against a criminal group - the bloodiest action Rio has experienced. In excess of 100 suspects were arrested during the operation Bruno Itan stated that residents first notified him to the raid early on Tuesday by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him informing him there was a shoot-out. The reporter made his way to the healthcare center, where the bodies were coming in. The photographer stated that the police stopped members of the press from accessing the affected area, where the operation were taking place. "Security forces formed a line and declared: 'The press are not allowed to pass'." But Itan, who was raised in the area, stated he succeeded to gain access past the security perimeter, where he stayed until the next morning. He described that Tuesday night, local residents commenced searching the hillside that borders the Penha neighborhood from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for loved ones whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action. Community members of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the discovered victims in an open area - the documented evidence show the reaction of those present. "The brutality of the situation impacted me a lot: the grief of loved ones, parents losing consciousness, women carrying children, weeping, angry family members," the eyewitness remembered. The eyewitness There was shock in Penha as community members retrieved additional victims from the adjacent terrain The governor of the state declared that the massive police operation with approximately 2,500 officers was aimed at stopping a gang known as Red Command from growing their influence. Initially, the Rio state government maintained that "60 suspects and four police officers" lost their lives during the action. Officials subsequently stated that their "preliminary" count indicates that 117 "suspects" have been killed. The legal assistance organization, that offers legal help to disadvantaged individuals, has estimated the final tally of people killed at 132. According to researchers, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity that recently has succeeded to make territorial gains throughout Rio state. It is generally regarded as a major illegal faction in Brazil, alongside First Capital Command, featuring a timeline dating back more than 50 years. According to Brazilian journalist an expert, with extensive experience documenting criminal activity in the city for years, the gang "operates like a franchise" with local criminal leaders affiliating with the group and serving as "operational allies". The organization engages primarily in narcotics distribution, while also dealing in guns, precious metals, energy resources, alcohol and tobacco. Per law enforcement statements, gang members possess significant weaponry and police said that while the action was underway, they encountered resistance from explosive-laden drones. The governor of the region, the political leader, labeled organization participants as "narcoterrorists" and called the security forces killed in the raid as brave public servants. But the number of casualties in the operation has faced scrutiny from UN human rights officials stating they were "shocked". In a media appearance the next day, the official supported law enforcement. "We did not plan to result in deaths. We intended to detain everyone safely," he stated. He continued that the circumstances had escalated as the individuals fought back: "It resulted of the resistance they implemented and the excessive violence by the illegal group." The governor additionally stated that the casualties shown by residents in the area were "altered". Via a statement through digital channels, he said that some of them had been stripped of military-style attire which he claimed they wore "to redirect responsibility onto the police". A law enforcement representative representing security forces additionally stated that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and firearms" had been removed from the casualties and presented video apparently demonstrating a man cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse