Bolsonaro supporters swarm Brazilian Congress

Newly-inaugurated President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has reportedly been evacuated to a secure location

Supporters of right-wing former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro have swarmed the Congress building, climbing its roof and breaking windows on Sunday following weeks of unrest. 

Video posted to social media shows the rioters attacking the Supreme Court building as well. Water can be seen pouring out of a broken window and makeshift lettering pasted on another window as demonstrators, many clutching or wearing Brazilian flags, survey the damage. The court had slapped Bolsonaro with a hefty fine in November over his efforts to challenge the results of the presidential race, accusing him of acting in bad faith.

WATCH: The moment barricades were breached at the National Congress in Brazil.

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— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) January 8, 2023

Video posted to social media appeared to confirm reports that protesters had also broken into both the Presidential Palace and the Planalto Palace. Reports by police in the Federal District of Brasilia cited on social media suggested they were concerned they might be outnumbered by the demonstrators.

Bolsonaro’s successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, inaugurated last week, has reportedly been evacuated to a secure location in Sao Paulo, according to local outlet Folha. Bolsonaro made a point of avoiding the ceremonial transition of power to his left-wing rival, opting to fly to Florida ahead of the date. The former leader left behind a tearful farewell message to supporters in which he reiterated that his electoral defeat had been unfair while condemning the violent protests that followed.

The minister of justice has also been evacuated and the military reportedly ordered to deploy.

Since Lula’s narrow electoral victory in October, supporters of the former president have blocked roads, set vehicles on fire, and even surrounded military buildings in an effort to try to convince the soldiers inside to overthrow the new government.

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