An estimated 1,500 supporters of Brazil's outgoing far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, have been detained after Sunday's assault on the country's main democratic institutions in the capital Brasília, Belga News Agency and other international media report.
In response to Sunday’s violence, police on Monday descended onto the camp of around 3,000 pro-Bolsonaro activists – set up weeks ago – in front of the headquarters of the armed forces in Brasília. Far-right Bolsonaro supporters were protesting the results of the presidential elections, which were won by left-wing candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Some were even reportedly calling for a military coup to restore the former president.
Around 40 buses chartered by the government transported the last of the "campers" to the police station, following the previous day's court order to dismantle the camp within 24 hours, according to Brazilian media G1. International media are reporting the number of people arrested at around 1,500.
Credit: Screen grab Alan Rios / Metrópoles
After several hours of chaos reminiscent of the Capitol insurrection in Washington, Brazilian law enforcement agencies regained control of the presidential palace, Congress and the Supreme Court after they were assaulted by thousands of far-right Bolsonaro supporters on Sunday, according to Justice and Security Minister Flávio Dino.
"The coup plotters who promoted the destruction of public property in Brasília are being identified and will be punished. Tomorrow we will resume work at the Planalto Palace. Democracy always," tweeted President Lula, who inspected the ransacked buildings on his return to Brasília late Sunday night.
The Brazilian president’s cabinet room is one of the only undamaged places inside the presidential palace in Brasília. "President Lula's room has got extra shielding and they couldn't get in," said the Chief Minister of communications Paulo Pimenta to journalists.
Credit: Belga
The majority of government palaces in Brasília are listed as World Heritage sites by UNESCO. Furthermore, many works of art that hang in the democratic institutions were destroyed in the riots – including an important painting of Brazilian modernist artist Di Cavalcanti, which rioters "stabbed at least six times."
"Democracy should never be taken for granted"
The events have provoked strong reactions around the world. Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib reacted on Twitter that she was "appalled by the violence in Brasília," which she states was reminiscent of the assault on the Capitol two years ago.
Lahbib also called for the results of democratic elections to be respected, as well as for the institutions that symbolise them and the rule of law. "Democracy should never be taken for granted," she concluded.
United States President Joe Biden called the scenes "scandalous," adding that the US would condemn any attempt to undermine democracy in Brazil. Biden's ascension to the presidency was also marked by a similar assault on democratic institutions on 6 January 2021 by pro-Donald Trump supporters.
On Monday evening, Brazilian media reported that Bolsonaro had been hospitalised in Florida for abdominal pain. He has been staying in the US state since leaving office, and is is also facing corruption charges in Brazil. He has been accused of being a "Tropical Trump" and having used a similar playbook to the former US President in the lead-up to Sunday's events.
