Brazil’s president Lula vows to punish 'vandals and fascists' who stormed Congress

9 January 2023, 00:17 | Updated: 9 January 2023, 08:30

Supporters of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro storm the Esplanada dos Ministerios
Supporters of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro storm the Esplanada dos Ministerios. Picture: Getty

By Adam Solomons

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has vowed to punish supporters of former far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro who stormed the country’s Congress.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Visiting the site of the attack, the president inspected the damage caused by rioters.

He vowed to punish those responsible, saying there is "no precedent in the history of our country" for the scenes. He said the violence was the "acts of vandals and fascists".

He also accused security forces of "incompetence, bad faith or malice" for failing to stop the demonstrators.

Mounted police clashed with demonstrators on the ground while riot shield-wielding officers sought to protect the congress, the presidential palace and the supreme court.

Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro has refused to accept the results of a presidential election in which he was defeated by his left-wing rival.

Rishi Sunak said on Twitter: "I condemn any attempt to undermine the peaceful transfer of power and the democratic will of the people of Brazil."

He said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has the UK's "full support".

"I look forward to building on our countries' close ties in the years ahead," he added.

Read more: Harry accuses royals of "getting into bed with the devil" and have "shown no willingness to reconcile"

Read more: MPs earn £17.1 million in addition to £84,000 salary - with Tories taking home extra £15.2 million alone

A police helicopter monitors unrest outside the capital's National Congress
A police helicopter monitors unrest outside the capital's National Congress. Picture: Getty

Thousands of demonstrators bypassed security barricades, climbed on the roofs, broke windows and invaded all three buildings, which are connected through the vast Three Powers square in Brasilia.

Some are calling for a military intervention to restore the far-right Mr Bolsonaro to power.

Images on TV channel Globo News showed protesters roaming the presidential palace, many of them wearing green and yellow, the colours of the flag that have also come to symbolise the Bolsonaro government.

It was likely that Congress and the Supreme Court had limited personnel inside the buildings on a Sunday.

Mounted police clash with rioters at the presidential palace in capital Brasilia
Mounted police clash with rioters at the presidential palace in capital Brasilia. Picture: Getty

Lula said there was "no precedent in the history of our country" for the scenes and called the violence the "acts of vandals and fascists".

He took aim at some police he accused of "incompetence, bad faith or malice" in the failure to stop rioters reaching congress.

He added: "You will see in the images that they [police officers] are guiding people on the walk to Praca dos Tres Powers.

"We are going to find out who are the financiers of these vandals who went to Brasilia and they will all pay with the force of law."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Gunner Beck

Women in Army subjected to 'disgusting' comments from male colleagues amid misogynistic culture, inquest hears

The aircraft can be seen upside down, with its wheels in the air, and the area thick with snow

Emergency crews responding after Delta Airlines flight 'flips over' during landing in Toronto - injuring 15

Paula Miluska had started working from home in November 2022 due to her pregnancy illness

Woman awarded £93k payout after boss fires her for morning sickness by sending jazz hands emoji

c

Britain must take a ‘leading responsibility’ for peace in Ukraine, says PM as he calls for US ‘security guarantee’

Andrew Tate is facing allegations of trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering

Trump team 'pressuring Romania to lift restrictions on Andrew Tate'

Skyrora, a rocket company with its headquarters in Edinburgh

Scottish company promises to blast rockets into space from 2026

A petition calling for major driving licence changes has received almost 100,000 signatures

Petition calls for ban on newly-qualified drivers carrying passengers under 25

The Princess of Wales has shares portraits drawn by her three children during the half-term break.

Princess of Wales shares heartwarming portraits drawn by George, Charlotte and Louis - but who drew who?

Double Olympic champion and Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas will retire from cycling this year.

Tour de France winner and double Olympic champion Geraint Thomas to retire from cycling at end of season

A 13-year-old boy has died and five others have been arrested following  a car crash on A672 Oldham Road.

Boy, 13, dies and five others arrested as Vauxhall Corsa spins off road in horror car crash

Lisa Smith, 43, was named by Kent Police

Pictured: Mother-of-two shot dead at pub on Valentine's Day - as police search river Thames for partner

Julia Wandelt who has claimed to be Madeleine McCann

Woman who claims to be Madeleine McCann releases bombshell new DNA test results

Pope Francis will need to remain in hospital with a respiratory tract infection

Pope to remain in hospital with infection as doctors tackle 'complex clinical picture'

One lucky punter scooped £65m on the EuroMillions

Lucky UK ticket-holder claims £65m Valentine's Day EuroMillions jackpot

A life-drawing class that has been running for over 30 years has been told its models must cover-up or find a new venue.

Models at life drawing class in posh London neighbourhood told to cover up over child 'safeguarding' concerns

Exclusive
An investigation by LBC can reveal there are more than 1.1m homes sitting empty across England - the equivalent of one in every 23.

More than 1.1m homes sitting empty across England as thousands left at risk of homelessness