The World Briefly
January 12, 2023Law & Order
Brazil
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A senior judge in Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered the arrests of two top security officials in the capital this week, just days after supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the country’s three main government buildings, the Washington Post reported.
The arrest warrants target Anderson Torres, the public security chief for the federal district of Brasília, and Colonel Fábio Augusto, commander of military police in the district.
The detention order comes after Brazil’s new President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and other officials have accused the police officials of colluding with the rioters, who occupied the Plaza of the Three Powers in Brasilia on Sunday in an attempt to overthrow the government.
The plaza houses the Presidential Palace, Brazil’s Congress and the Supreme Court.
Sunday’s riots followed weeks of unrest that have gripped the South American nation after the October presidential runoff. Although Lula defeated his conservative rival with 51 percent of the vote, Bolsonaro continuously alleged that Brazil’s electoral system was marred with corruption and fraud.
Bolsonaro – who is currently residing in Florida – has yet to concede his defeat to Lula and has called the results unfair.
In recent weeks, his supporters have camped outside military installations and called on the military to block Lula from taking power. They have also burned buses and attacked federal police headquarters in the capital.
Bolsonaro has condemned the violence, including Sunday’s events.
Officials believe that Sunday’s riots were an attempt to trigger Brazil’s Guarantee of Law and Order, which would allow the military to assert control of the capital.
Meanwhile, authorities are questioning around 1,500 people who have been taken into custody.
Brazilian Justice Minister Flávio Dino added investigators are also probing business executives suspected of financing the unrest, including by renting about 40 buses to transport Bolsonaro supporters to the capital.
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