Radical allies of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the National Congress in Brasilia this Sunday and managed to enter the Palacio do Plano, the seat of the Brazilian presidency, and the Federal Supreme Court. The intruders vandalized all three establishments, breaking glass, doors and equipment, turning over drawers and destroying documents.
Militants were able to occupy public buildings after overcoming human and physical barriers by Brazilian police. Videos show that the number of police officers in the capital is insufficient, which already happened on December 12, when far-right extremists, supporters of Bolsonaro, burned dozens of vehicles and tried to occupy the headquarters of the central police unattended. The police acted.
Clashes broke out between militants and the police in various parts of Brasilia around 7 p.m. Inside Congress and the Supreme Court, security agents from both institutions confronted the demonstrators as best they could, but they could do nothing without massive police reinforcements.
Brasilia’s governor, Ibáñez Rocha, who commands security forces in the Brazilian capital, is a declared supporter of Jair Bolsonaro and has refused to take concrete measures against the militants, who have camped out in the city of Lula da Silva since October 30. Silva defeated Jair Bolsonaro in the presidential election.
The new Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino, had tried to ban extremist demonstrations this Sunday in the area where ministries and Congress are located, but the governor allowed it.
Militants occupying government buildings in Brasilia are demanding an armed coup to oust Lula, who took office on Sunday, January 1, and return the presidency to Bolsonaro, who is based in the United States. He fled two days before the end of his term to avoid arrest.
Lula da Silva shows the damage caused by torrential rains in recent days in the interior of Sao Paulo.
God save Brazil pic.twitter.com/r0q9DQM1oX
— Vamberto Queiroz (@VambertoQueiroz) January 8, 2023
??National Congress: Bolsonaroistas coup plotters attack the police, break barriers and climb the ramp of the National Congress.
? What qualifications do they have? pic.twitter.com/abhmbfIBtH
— BINHOSAMPA©? (@pinhosambas) January 8, 2023
The Federal Senate was occupied by Bolsonerist opponents. It’s a lot of individual people. To subdue all these people surely many will be injured. pic.twitter.com/lx0QIukVN3
— Ricardo Antunes (@blogricaantunes) January 8, 2023
Los Bolsonaristas continue to shake up everything within Congress in Brasilia. #Congress #bolsonaristas #Conspiracy #Sabotage #Brasilia #Brazil pic.twitter.com/bL7D7uRxjx
— AustroHungarian (@AUSTROHNGARO2) January 8, 2023
After the Congress, conspirators stormed Planaldo Palace
The barricade around the palace has already been breached. Criminals are now trying to enter the buildinghttps://t.co/M9cDDtOENJ pic.twitter.com/KagE0ulO0j— tiberio (@tiberioallogo) January 8, 2023
Right: From inside Planaldo Palace. pic.twitter.com/pXhXuEwcQs
— IgorGeoPol (@IgorGeoPol) January 8, 2023
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