A group of demonstrators sympathetic to Brazilian ex-President Jair Bolsonaro have staged riots in Brasilia on Monday night by setting fire to vehicles and attempting to invade the Federal Police headquarters, following the arrest of a Bolsonaro supporter hours after the accreditation of Lula da Silva’s electoral victory.
The police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, who responded by throwing sticks and stones at the officers.
At least one person has been injured in the confrontation, in which several buses have been set on fire and dozens of cars have been destroyed, reports the Brazilian newspaper ‘O Globo’.
The District Public Security Secretariat has blocked several streets in the city as a «preventive measure» and to «control disturbances, traffic and possible fires», in response to the vandalism carried out by the demonstrators, reports the Brazilian media UOL.
In addition, the authorities have reinforced security in the vicinity of the hotel where President-elect Lula da Silva was staying.
The protests have started after Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered the detention of José Acácio Serere Xavante, known as ‘Tserere’, for ten days for allegedly organizing protests against the election results.
The PF has indicated that «the defendant is accompanied by lawyers and all the formalities related to the detention are being adopted in accordance with the legislation, safeguarding the physical and moral integrity of the detainee».
It also reported that the disturbances in the vicinity of its headquarters «are being contained with the support of other security forces».
The future Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino, condemned the attacks: «The depredation and attempted invasion of the Federal Police building in Brasília is unacceptable», he said.
«Court orders must be complied with by the Federal Police. Those who consider themselves harmed must offer the appropriate remedies, never to practice political violence», Dino assured.
For his part, the current head of this portfolio, Anderson Torres, said tonight that «everything will be investigated and clarified», in the context of the protests in which the Federal Police has tried to contain the violence and restore order together with local and national authorities.
«Nothing justifies the regrettable scenes we saw in downtown Brasilia. The federal capital is traditionally the scene of peaceful and orderly demonstrations – and it will continue to be!» he added, while showing his support for the police officers.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received this Monday the credentials as future president of the country, thus certifying that the elections of last October were legal and that the inauguration will be held on January 1.
Moraes, at the ceremony held at the organization’s headquarters in the Brazilian capital, stressed that those responsible for the attacks on democracy will be identified and held accountable.
