In brief
A recent police operation targeting the notorious Comando Vermelho gang in Rio de Janeiro has resulted in the deaths of over 132 individuals, with eyewitness reports detailing horrific scenes of mutilation and distress among local residents. The police raid, intended to curb gang violence, has faced severe criticism for the high death toll, prompting responses from state officials and human rights organizations. Eyewitness Bruno Itan shared harrowing experiences of witnessing bodies being retrieved, reflecting on the emotional impact on families. The governor defended the police's actions while advocating for an inquiry into the events.
A photographer who witnessed the aftermath of a massive Brazilian police operation in Rio de Janeiro has told the BBC of how residents came back with mutilated bodies of those who had died.
The bodies kept coming: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45... Bruno Itan told BBC Brasil. They included those of police officers.
One of the bodies had been decapitated - others were totally disfigured, he said. Many also had what he says were stab wounds.
More than 120 people were killed during Tuesday's raid on a criminal gang - the deadliest such raid in the city.
Bruno Itan told BBC Brasil that he was first alerted to the raid early on Tuesday by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who sent him messages telling him there was a shoot-out.
The photographer made his way to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the bodies were arriving.
Itan says that the police stopped members of the press from entering the Penha neighbourhood, where the operation was under way.
However, Itan, who grew up in the area, was able to make his way into the cordoned-off area, remaining until the next morning.
Residents began to search the hillside which divides Penha from the nearby Alemão neighbourhood for relatives who had gone missing since the police raid.
Governor of Rio state, Cláudio Castro, stated that the massive police operation aimed at curbing the activities of the criminal group known as Comando Vermelho is one of the largest in Brazilian history.
Initial reports suggested that only 60 suspects and four police officers were killed during the operation, but updated counts have raised the death toll significantly as investigations continued.
The violence, characterized by the use of heavy weaponry and drones by gang members, led to a high-stakes confrontation with the police.
Critics have described the operation's aftermath as alarming, calling attention to the number of civilians affected and the potential misuse of force by law enforcement.
The United Nations has expressed concern regarding the tactics employed and the resultant fatalities, reinforcing the need for extensive review and accountability.
