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 was first alerted to the raid early on Tuesday by residents of the Alemão neighbourhood, who sent him messages reporting a shoot-out. He made his way to the Getúlio Vargas hospital, where the bodies were arriving.
The police had blocked the press from entering the area, but Itan, familiar with the location, managed to get in. The situation grew tense as local residents began to look for missing relatives.
The brutality of it all impacted me a lot: the sorrow of the families, mothers fainting, pregnant wives, crying, outraged parents, remembers Itan.
The Rio police operation involved around 2,500 security personnel, targeting the Comando Vermelho gang. While authorities initially reported 60 deaths, the number has since been revised to at least 132, promising a thorough investigation as demands for accountability resound amidst the tragedy.
Governor Cláudio Castro defended the police's actions while facing criticism for the high death toll, calling the deceased gang members narcoterrorists. The situation raises serious questions about community safety, police conduct, and the future of crime in Brazil.
