Politics

Brazil Riots: Arrests Ordered for Top Officials After Capital Stormed

Published JAN 11 2023

Story

Image credit: Reuters [via Al Jazeera]

The Facts

On Tuesday, the Brazilian Supreme Court announced it has ordered the arrest of the secretary in charge of Brasília's public security and the military commander in the country's capital city at the time protesters breached the presidential palace, Congress, and the Supreme Court.
The Wall Street Journal
Brasília's former public security chief Anderson Torres and police commander Col. Fábio Augusto are accused of being "responsible for acts and omissions" leading to Sunday's chaos, with the federal intervenor in public security, Ricardo Cappelli, accusing Torres of a "structured sabotage operation."
BBC News
While Col. Fábio Augusto is reportedly already under arrest, Torres has been on vacation in the US and was not present on the day of the demonstrations. Torres, Jair Bolsonaro's Justice Minister, has stated he will return to Brazil to present himself.
Folha de S.Paulo
Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the warrants at the request of federal police as investigators allegedly had evidence that the officials knew violence was looming but did nothing to prevent it.
nytimes
Brazilian authorities have arrested some 1.5K people for allegedly participating in the riot, with Pres. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva accusing Bolsonaro of encouraging protesters and vowing to investigate and find out who financed it.
FOX News
Meanwhile, Bolsonaro has told CNN Brasil that he's planning to leave the US and return to Brazil within the next few weeks after being hospitalized in Florida with abdominal pains. Bolsonaro has come under fire in the wake of Sunday's protests, with Brazilian public prosecutors requesting the seizure of his assets and US Democratic lawmakers demanding he be expelled from the US.
www.ft.com

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

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CRIT

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PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Left narrative

Though unquestionably inspired by the US Capitol attack on Jan. 6, the pro-Bolsonaro insurrection in Brasília was much more dangerous than its American parallel as security forces were permissive and even supportive of Sunday's anti-democratic actions. Armed forces have long turned a blind eye to people camping around their barracks to demand a coup, and their plans of invading the Congress were publicly known.

Al Jazeera

Right narrative

The hypocrisy of Brazil's establishment is blatant and outrageous as federal district officials are being arrested for their alleged omissions that led to riots while Justice Minister Dino and President Lula also knew about the attack – caused by infiltrators – in advance and did nothing to impede it. Additionally, Justice de Moraes stated that democratic people who peacefully protested for months were "terrorists" without trial.

The Gateway Pundit