Supporters of the right-wing former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed Brazil’s National Congress and presidential palace buildings, according to reports. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has reportedly declared a federal security intervention until Jan. 31 in response to the riot.
Crowds of pro-Bolsonaro demonstrators have been protesting outside of military barracks in the capitol Brasilia since the election, pushing the military to launch a coup to keep Bolsonaro in power. Bolsonaro blamed a software bug in Brazil’s voting machines for his narrow loss against Lula, according to Voice of America.
As of 4:56 p.m., the security team of the Federal Supreme Court and the riot police had regained control of the headquarters of the Three Powers, according to CNN Brazil. Lula was not in the building at the time of the storming because he was on a trip to Sao Paulo state, the BBC reported.
LULA INAUGURATED AS PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL AFTER CHAOTIC TRANSITION PERIOD
Lula decreta intervenção na segurança do Distrito Federal até 31 de janeiro de 2022. O interventor é Ricardo Cappelli, secretário-executivo do Ministério da Justiça.
— Guilherme Amado (@guilherme_amado) January 8, 2023
Minister of Justice and Public Security Flavio Dino tweeted shortly after the storming began that the government was mobilizing reserves to retake the government buildings.
“This absurd attempt to impose the will by force will not prevail. The Government of the Federal District claims that there will be reinforcements. And the forces at our disposal are at work. I’m at the headquarters of the Ministry of Justice,” he said.
Essa absurda tentativa de impor a vontade pela força não vai prevalecer. O Governo do Distrito Federal afirma que haverá reforços. E as forças de que dispomos estão agindo. Estou na sede do Ministério da Justiça.
— Flávio Dino ?? (@FlavioDino) January 8, 2023
Footage earlier on Sunday showed a large pro-Bolsonaro demonstration marching down Brasilia’s Monumental Axis, the capitol’s main street, which contains the country’s National Congress building and Planalto Palace, the residence of the president.
01.08.23 Brasília DF Brazil pic.twitter.com/hJKjAapiEj
— Fernanda MacMillan (@floresdepapel6) January 8, 2023
Video obtained by Direto de America shows large crowds sporting the green, blue, and yellow of Brazil’s flag engulfing the National Congress.
PROTESTERS BREACH BARRIERS AROUND CONGRESS BUILDING IN BRASILIA.
— Direto da América (@DiretoDaAmerica) January 8, 2023
Bolsonaro supporters were also filmed within the building itself, pouring in through broken windows and doors, according to video obtained by BNO News.
BREAKING: Bolsonaro supporters break into the National Congress in Brazil pic.twitter.com/EHyEbqf2FE
— BNO News (@BNONews) January 8, 2023
Other videos on social media showed Bolsonaro supporters posing in the Federal Senate, mirroring supporters of former President Donald Trump posing in the House of Representatives in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
In scenes reminiscent of the January 6 Capitol attack in the US, supporters of the defeated President #Bolsonaro, have marched on #Brazil’s Presidential Palace & Congress building, invading the floor of the Federal Senate & the Supreme Court?#BREAKING pic.twitter.com/FuAdXB2GVz https://t.co/HQiW0fyOuu
— Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) January 8, 2023
???⚡? — Protesters sing the national anthem in the Senate chamber, National Congress. Protesters accuse Lula of being a criminal who was unconstitutionally released by the Brazilian Supreme Court, who was not elected by the people. pic.twitter.com/PpE7oPgl0P
— The informant (@theinformantofc) January 8, 2023
The National Guard of Brazil was deployed and is attempting to clear the buildings, footage from inside one of the buildings shows, while another video shows the Brazilian Supreme Court being ransacked.
?? Brazilian STF (Supreme Court) is being destroyed. pic.twitter.com/nOx1NyY3il
— AZ ???? (@AZgeopolitics) January 8, 2023
?? Civilians entered Supremo Tribunal Federal= Federal Court of Justice pic.twitter.com/vofOOVuJhd
— AZ ???? (@AZgeopolitics) January 8, 2023
Other videos show some violence by the protesters toward the police, including a video in which a pro-Bolsonaro mob beats a mounted police officer with sticks.
Bolsonaristas estão neste exato momento agr3d1nd0 policiais que estão tentando parar as manifestações em Brasília. pic.twitter.com/lvVZAgSOP7
— Anonymous SCT (@anonymousSCT) January 8, 2023
Showing that many supporters took part in the storming due to claims of election fraud, dozens of demonstrators unfurled a banner above the National Congress, reading, “We want the source code,” likely referring to speculations about malicious software rigging the vote count. The banner was in English and Portuguese.
Massive protests in Brazil with the Supreme Court, political centers and other government buildings being sacked by the people. Many feel the election was fraudulent. Notice the English language banner about source code? pic.twitter.com/jIPUB8KInh
— GraphicW (@GraphicW5) January 8, 2023
Video shows a Federal Police helicopter dropping stun grenades on the large crowd in an attempt to get it to disperse.
BREAKING ??: A Federal Police helicopter has finally arrived to the scene with stun grenades to disperse the Bolsonaristas. pic.twitter.com/gOQDy3NHHn
— David Adler (@davidrkadler) January 8, 2023
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Bolsonaro is in Florida, where he flew to in his final days in office.
