Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro broke police barricades and stormed congress, the presidential palace and the Supreme Court. Where they created a ruckus.
Brasilia: Hundreds of supporters of Brazil's far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro stormed Congress, the presidential palace and the Supreme Court on Sunday by breaking police barricades. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned the attack, as protesters dressed in green and yellow flags climbed into the Speaker's chair and gathered around him. They trampled on the Supreme Court headquarters and climbed from the ramp to the Planalto Presidential Palace. The incident brought back memories of the US Capitol violence. President Luiz Inacio Lula, who was visiting an area affected by severe flooding in the southeastern city of Araraquara. He signed a decree announcing a federal intervention in Brasilia, giving his government exclusive powers to restore law and order in the capital. "These fascist fundamentalists have done something that has never been seen before in the history of this country," he said.
The 77-year-old veteran leftist leader took office after defeating Bolsonaro in the elections. "We will find out who these miscreants are and deal with them with the full force of the law," he said, adding that hardline Bolsonaro supporters have been demanding military intervention outside military bases in Brazil to prevent Lula from taking power since defeating Bolsonaro badly in the election.
A crowd of protesters climbed on to the roof of the Congress Bhavan on Sunday. In social media footage, rioters can be seen breaking doors and windows to enter the Congress Bhavan. Then collectively running in, breaking up MPs' offices and using the dias of the sloped speaker on the floor of the legislature as a slide. One video shows a mob outside dragging a policeman from his horse and dropping him to the ground.
Police, who had set up a security cordon around Brasilia's Three Powers Square. They fired tear gas to disperse rioters from classic buildings of the National Congress, Planalto and the Supreme Court. After failing, security forces used riot police on horses and fired tear gas shells from helicopters to disperse the protesters. But the scene of the stampede continued till late evening and there was still a huge crowd on the three buildings.
A journalists' association said at least five journalists were attacked, including an AFP photographer who was beaten up by protesters and his belongings stolen. Protesters Sara Lima told AFP they were demanding a review of the "fraudulent election". Bolsonaro has alleged that he was the victim of a conspiracy against him by Brazilian courts and election officials.
"After this fraudulent election, we need to re-establish order," said Lima, a 27-year-old production engineer wearing the yellow jersey of the Brazilian national football team. "I am here for history, for my daughters," Senate Chairman Rodrigo Pacheco tweeted, adding that he "strongly rejects this anti-democratic protest that must be punished with the full force of the law."
The United States said it "condemns any attempt" to undermine democracy in Brazil, while National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said President Joe Biden was "closely monitoring the situation." French President Emmanuel Macron called for respect for Brazil's institutions and sent "France's unwavering support" to Lula.
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