🔗 Share this article

Bruno Itan

An eyewitness who observed the aftermath of a large-scale security raid in the Brazilian city has recounted how residents came back with disfigured remains of those who had died.

The bodies "kept coming: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", the eyewitness stated. They included law enforcement personnel.

A particular victim was discovered headless - additional victims were "severely damaged", he explained. Several bodies showed evidence of knife injuries.

Over 120 individuals lost their lives in the Tuesday operation against a criminal group - the most lethal operation in the city.

The photographer stated that residents first notified him concerning the action in the early hours by residents living in Alemão, who sent him messages telling him gunfire had erupted.

The reporter traveled to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the casualties were being brought.

The eyewitness reported that security forces stopped members of the press from going into the operation zone, where the security measures were taking place.

"Law enforcement personnel established a perimeter and said: 'Media representatives are not allowed to pass'."

But Itan, who was raised in the community, explained he succeeded to gain access into the restricted zone, where he remained through the night.

He reported that Tuesday night, area inhabitants commenced searching the mountainous area that borders Penha from the neighboring Alemão community for relatives whose whereabouts were unknown after the operation.

Local people living in Penha proceeded to place the located casualties in an open area - the documented evidence reveal the response of the gathered crowd.

"The harsh reality of it all impacted me deeply: the sorrow of the families, women collapsing, expectant spouses, sobbing, furious relatives," the eyewitness remembered.

The eyewitness

The governor of the region announced that the large-scale security action deploying about 2,500 security personnel was aimed at halting a gang referred to as Red Command from expanding its territory.

Initially, the Rio state government stated that sixty alleged criminals along with four officers" were fatally injured during the action.

They have since said that their "preliminary" count shows that 117 alleged criminals were fatally injured.

Rio's public defender's office, that gives legal support to low-income residents, has put the final tally of people killed at 132.

Per investigative findings, the criminal organization represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has managed to make territorial gains throughout Rio state.

It is generally regarded one of the two largest gangs nationally, in company with another major gang, and has a history dating back more than 50 years.

According to reporter an expert, who has been covering crime in Rio extensively, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with neighborhood bosses forming part of the gang and acting as "business partners".

The criminal group concentrates largely on drug trafficking, but also smuggles guns, precious metals, fuel, beverages and tobacco.

According to the authorities, criminal affiliates are well armed and police said that throughout the operation, they encountered resistance via weaponized unmanned aircraft.

The governor of the region, Cláudio Castro, characterized Red Command members as drug terrorists and called the security forces killed in the raid as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of fatalities during the raid has received condemnation from UN human rights officials stating they were "appalled".

At a news conference the following day, the official supported law enforcement.

"It wasn't our intention to kill anyone. We wanted to take suspects into custody without harm," he said.

He added that the circumstances had escalated because the suspects resisted aggressively: "It occurred of the retaliation they implemented and the disproportionate use of force by the illegal group."

The official additionally stated that the casualties shown by residents in the neighborhood had been "tampered with".

In a post on online platforms, he asserted that particular individuals had been stripped of tactical gear which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation onto the police".

A law enforcement representative representing security forces further reported that "camouflage clothing, body armor, and arms" were taken away from the casualties and presented video seemingly depicting an individual cutting camouflage clothing {off a corpse