Brazil Court Orders Arrests Over Congress Attacks

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BRASÍLIA (Worthy News) – Two top Brazilian security officials faced detention Tuesday after a senior judge on Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered their arrests over attacks on key government buildings.

Tuesday’s order came after rioters claiming to be supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the country’s congress, the presidential palace, and the supreme court.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes reportedly approved warrants for the arrests of Anderson Torres, the public security secretary for the federal district of the capital Brasília, and Colonel Fábio Augusto, commander of military police in the neighborhood.

One official, the former commander of the military police, has been arrested, local media reported.

They and others are “responsible for acts and omissions” leading to the riots, the attorney general’s office said.

Torres denies any role in the riots.

DOUBTS REMAIN

However, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, widely known as Lula, and court members accuse police of colluding with the rioters.

The rioters occupied and vandalized the buildings Sunday, hoping to encourage the military to overthrow the government, authorities said.

Augusto, the police commander, was already dismissed from his role after the attacks before his detention.

The rioting came a week after Lula was sworn in as Brazil’s president.

Thousands of protesters, some wearing yellow Brazil football shirts and waving flags, overrun police and ransacked the heart of the Brazilian state.

Of the estimated 1,500 people arrested and brought to the police academy after the riot, officials say that nearly 600 have been taken to other facilities. Under Brazilian law, police have five days to charge them formally.

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