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.
Itan recounted that he was first alerted to the raid early on Tuesday by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood through messages reporting a shoot-out. When he arrived at the Getúlio Vargas hospital, bodies were already being brought in.
Despite being blocked from entering the Penha neighbourhood, he managed to bypass the police cordon and witnessed the recovery operations where local residents searched for missing relatives first reported as casualties.
The graphic images of grief in the community showed mothers fainting and families in despair as they confronted the brutality of the police action.
Authorities initially stated that around 60 suspects and four police officers had died but later increased the death count of suspected gang members to 117, with the public defender’s office presenting a total exceeding 130.
In addition to the loss of life, the Rio governor described the operation as a necessary measure against the criminal group, Comando Vermelho, capitalizing on the escalating violence in the city. However, the operation drew major criticism from human rights organizations, leading to calls for accountability and transparency regarding the excessive use of force.
The governor defended the police actions, stating they never intended to kill but rather to arrest the suspects alive, claiming the escalation resulted from retaliatory actions taken by gang members.
The shocking toll of this police operation continues to reverberate through the community, raising urgent questions surrounding policing practices in Brazil.
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.
Itan recounted that he was first alerted to the raid early on Tuesday by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood through messages reporting a shoot-out. When he arrived at the Getúlio Vargas hospital, bodies were already being brought in.
Despite being blocked from entering the Penha neighbourhood, he managed to bypass the police cordon and witnessed the recovery operations where local residents searched for missing relatives first reported as casualties.
The graphic images of grief in the community showed mothers fainting and families in despair as they confronted the brutality of the police action.
Authorities initially stated that around 60 suspects and four police officers had died but later increased the death count of suspected gang members to 117, with the public defender’s office presenting a total exceeding 130.
In addition to the loss of life, the Rio governor described the operation as a necessary measure against the criminal group, Comando Vermelho, capitalizing on the escalating violence in the city. However, the operation drew major criticism from human rights organizations, leading to calls for accountability and transparency regarding the excessive use of force.
The governor defended the police actions, stating they never intended to kill but rather to arrest the suspects alive, claiming the escalation resulted from retaliatory actions taken by gang members.
The shocking toll of this police operation continues to reverberate through the community, raising urgent questions surrounding policing practices in Brazil.
