The bodies just kept coming - eyewitness describes deadly Rio police raid

Bruno Itan

A reporter who documented the aftermath of a large-scale security raid in Rio de Janeiro has recounted how local people returned with disfigured remains of the deceased individuals.

The bodies "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", Bruno Itan stated. Among them were those of police officers.

One of the bodies had been decapitated - while others appeared "severely damaged", he said. Numerous victims displayed what appeared to be stab wounds.

In excess of 120 victims lost their lives in the Tuesday operation targeting an illegal organization - the deadliest such raid Rio has experienced.

The eyewitness stated that residents first notified him to the raid early on Tuesday by community members of the Alemão neighbourhood, who contacted him alerting him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The photographer went to the healthcare center, where the casualties were coming in.

The eyewitness reported that security forces blocked media personnel from accessing the Penha neighborhood, where the security measures was under way.

"Law enforcement personnel formed a line and declared: 'Journalists doesn't get past here'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who grew up in that neighborhood, stated he succeeded to enter into the cordoned-off area, where he continued until the next morning.

He reported during the night, area inhabitants started looking the mountainous area that separates Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown following the security action.

Community members from the Penha area proceeded to place the recovered bodies in a public space - and Itan's photos reveal the emotions of those present.

"The brutality of what occurred impacted me deeply: the sorrow of the families, women collapsing, expectant spouses, weeping, outraged parents," the eyewitness remembered.

The photographer

The state leader of the state stated that the extensive law enforcement effort involving around 2,500 security personnel was aimed at stopping a gang known as Red Command from increasing their control.

At first, the Rio state government claimed that sixty individuals along with four officers" lost their lives in the operation.

They have since said that early calculations suggests that 117 alleged criminals lost their lives.

The legal assistance organization, which provides legal assistance to the poor, has put the final tally of casualties as 132.

According to researchers, the gang is the only criminal group that in the past few years has been able to make territorial gains across the region.

Experts commonly view among the biggest criminal organizations in Brazil, in company with a rival criminal group, and has a history dating back more than 50 years.

According to correspondent an expert, with extensive experience documenting criminal activity in the city over many years, the gang "functions as a network" with local criminal leaders joining the organization and becoming "commercial associates".

The criminal group engages primarily in illegal drug trade, additionally trafficking firearms, gold, petroleum products, beverages cigarettes.

Per law enforcement statements, organization members have substantial firearms and authorities stated that during the raid, they encountered resistance using drone-delivered explosives.

The state leader of Rio state, the political leader, described Red Command members as criminal extremists and described the four police officers fatally injured in the action as courageous individuals.

But the number of casualties during the raid has come in for criticism with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights saying it was "horrified".

In a media appearance on Wednesday, Governor Castro defended the police force.

"It wasn't our intention to result in deaths. We intended to take suspects into custody without harm," he declared.

He added that the events intensified due to the alleged criminals fought back: "It resulted of the counterattack they executed and the overwhelming response from the gang members."

The state leader further reported that the casualties shown by residents in the neighborhood were "altered".

Through a message on social media, he asserted that certain victims had been removed of tactical gear he said they had been wearing "to transfer accusation onto the police".

A police official of Rio's civil police force further reported that "camouflage clothing, protective equipment, and firearms" had been removed from the casualties and displayed evidence seemingly depicting an individual cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse