At least 300 people have been arrested in Brazil after thousands of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and presidential palace, then trashed the nation’s highest seats of power.
Rioters have invaded and ransacked Brazil’s Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court – in a grim echo of the US Capitol riots two years ago by fans of former President Donald Trump.
The uprising, which lasted just over three hours, marked the severe polarization that still grips the country.
It came days after the inauguration of leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who defeated Jair Bolsonaro in the October election in one of the tightest presidential races, with just 50.9% of the votes.
It also made Mr. Bolsonaro the first president of Brazil to lose his bid for re-election.
The current Brazilian president, known as Lula, described the vandals on Sunday as “fanatical fascists” who “did what has never been done in the history of this country”.
Speaking at a news conference during an official trip to Sao Paulo state, he added: “All these people who did this will be found and they will be punished.”
However, Security forces have regained control after rioters stormed Brazil’s Congress.
Prime Minister of India, Modi’s response came hours after supporters of Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro raided national Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed concern on the riots in Brazil and extended support to government authorities, underlining that “democratic traditions must be respected by everyone”.
“Deeply concerned about the news of rioting and vandalism against the State institutions in Brasilia. Democratic traditions must be respected by everyone. We extend our full support to the Brazilian authorities,” he tweeted, tagging Brazil’s president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
