News
Rioters storm Brazil’s congress, Supreme Court and surround Presidential palace
BBC reported that Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has vowed to punish supporters of the country’s ex-leader, Jair Bolsonaro, after they stormed Congress.
Supporters of the ousted far-right leader also stormed the Supreme Court and surrounded the presidential palace.
But police regained control of the buildings in the capital Brasilia on Sunday evening after hours of clashes.
Arriving in the city, Lula himself toured the Supreme Court building to see the damage for himself.
Justice Minister Flavio Dino told local media that some 200 people had already been arrested.
The dramatic scenes – which saw thousands of protesters clad in yellow Brazil football shirts and flags overrun police and ransack the heart of the Brazilian state – come just a week after Lula’s inauguration.
The veteran left-wing leader was forced to declare emergency powers before dispatching the national guard into the capital to restore order.
He has also ordered the closure of the centre of the capital – including the main avenue where governmental buildings are – for 24 hours.