🔗 Share this article

Bruno Itan

An eyewitness who documented the aftermath of an extensive Brazilian police operation in Rio de Janeiro has reported how community members brought back badly injured victims of those who had died.

The casualties "continued arriving: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45...", Bruno Itan reported. They included law enforcement personnel.

One individual had been decapitated - others were "severely damaged", he reported. Numerous victims displayed evidence of blade trauma.

In excess of 120 victims were fatally injured during the security action against a criminal group - the bloodiest action in the city.

The eyewitness stated that residents first notified him about the operation Tuesday morning by residents from the Alemão area, who sent him messages informing him an armed confrontation was occurring.

The eyewitness made his way to the healthcare center, where the casualties were arriving.

The eyewitness reported that the police prevented journalists from accessing the operation zone, where the operation were occurring.

"Security forces formed a line and announced: 'The press doesn't get past here'."

Nevertheless, the eyewitness, who spent his childhood in the area, stated he was able to make his way into the restricted zone, where he continued until the next morning.

He reported that Tuesday night, community members commenced searching the elevated terrain that borders Penha from the adjacent Alemão area for relatives who had been missing since the police raid.

Residents of the Penha neighbourhood proceeded to place the located casualties in a public space - and Itan's photos display the reaction of the people there.

"The harsh reality of the situation affected me deeply: the grief of the families, women collapsing, pregnant wives, weeping, angry family members," the eyewitness remembered.

Bruno Itan

The state leader of Rio state declared that the extensive law enforcement effort with approximately 2,500 security personnel was aimed at stopping an illegal organization known as Comando Vermelho from growing their influence.

At first, state authorities stated that sixty alleged criminals plus four law enforcement personnel" had been killed during the action.

Officials subsequently stated that initial estimates suggests that 117 individuals have been killed.

Rio's public defender's office, which provides legal assistance to the poor, has calculated the final tally of fatalities as 132.

According to researchers, Red Command represents the unique criminal entity which in recent years has been able to increase its control across the region.

It is generally regarded as a major illegal faction in Brazil, alongside another major gang, and has a history spanning over five decades.

According to Brazilian journalist an expert, who has been covering illegal operations in Rio over many years, the criminal organization "functions as a network" with neighborhood bosses joining the organization and becoming "commercial associates".

The organization concentrates largely on drug trafficking, but also smuggles firearms, precious metals, fuel, alcohol cigarettes.

Per law enforcement statements, criminal affiliates are well armed and police said that throughout the operation, they faced assaults from explosive-laden drones.

The governor of the state, the political leader, labeled organization participants as criminal extremists and described the four police officers fatally injured in the action as brave public servants.

Nevertheless, the total of casualties in the operation has faced scrutiny from international human rights authorities stating they were "shocked".

In a media appearance the next day, Governor Castro supported law enforcement.

"There was no objective to kill anyone. We aimed to take suspects into custody without harm," he stated.

He further explained that the circumstances intensified due to the alleged criminals had retaliated: "It resulted of the counterattack they executed and the overwhelming response by the illegal group."

The official additionally stated that the bodies shown by residents in Penha were "altered".

Via a statement on social media, he said that certain victims had been removed of military-style attire which he claimed they wore "to transfer accusation to security forces".

A law enforcement representative representing security forces also said that tactical gear, protective equipment, and weapons" were taken away from the victims and showed footage appearing to show a person stripping military attire {off a corpse