In pictures: Bolsonaro supporters storm congress in Brazil

On January 8th, 2023, hundreds of extremist supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro invaded Brasilia and destroyed government buildings.

Dressed in green and yellow, they climbed onto the roof of the National Convention, smashing glass, furniture, damaging artwork and violently cracking down on the police.

The terrorists, unhappy with Lula's victory in the 2022 presidential election, arrived in Brasilia by bus and private car on January 7th.

Since October 2022, many of the protesters have been concentrated in the Bolsonarists' camp, installed in front of the army barracks, 7 km from Praça dos Três Poderes.

Those organizing the invasion were arrested days earlier, but the police reinforcements sent by the federal district government were insufficient.

Federal District Public Safety Secretary Anderson Torres was relieved of his post by FD Governor Ibaneis Rocha.

Anderson Torres, who was Attorney General in Bolsonaro's administration, has been in the United States, where the former president is, since December 31 last year.

Federal District Governor Ibaneis Rocha will be ousted for 90 days, according to a decision by Supreme Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes.

Minister Alexandre de Moraes believes that the Federal District government  allowed the coup to occur.

In his statement, the minister said that these circumstances "could only occur with the consent and even active involvement of the competent authorities of public security and intelligence, since the organisation of the alleged demonstrations was a notorious and well-known fact disclosed by the Brazilian media".

There are several images showing that the federal government's military police, (who are responsible for building security), failed to contain the invasion. Some even took photos with the terrorists.

This is one of the many images of the vandalism that took place in public buildings in Brasilia last Sunday.

The criminals used rocks, sticks and pieces of wood to demolish the seats of Congress, the Federal Court and the Planalto Palace.

Obviously the invaders were intent on plundering everywhere they went.

There was a plethora of posters and banners calling for military intervention. Criminals believe the armed forces should stage a military coup to remove Lula from government.

They also use slogans like "God above everything" and "God, fatherland, family".

The intruders easily broke through the police blockade and entered the buildings.

Even when more security forces arrived, the intruders did not retreat.

In fact, images are circulating on social media and the media of a police officer being attacked and thrown to the ground by the rioters.

The buildings were at the mercy of the intruders until they were finally evacuated by the police on January 8th.

Over the hours, more than 300 people have been arrested and sponsors of the trips identified. According to Justice Minister Flávio Dino, the penalty for the crime could be more than 20 years in prison.

Supreme Court Secretary Alexandre de Moraes guaranteed: "The despicable acts of terrorism against democracy and republican institutions will be held accountable, as will the financiers, instigators and past and present underhanded public agents and criminals associated with unlawful conduct of the riot."

Given the seriousness of the situation, President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva ordered a federal intervention in the federal district.

The decree is part of the 1988 constitution and can be used, among other things, in the event of "serious impairment of public order". It means that the federal government can intervene in the responsibilities of other federal states.

In his speech, President Lula condemned the terrorist attacks in Brasilia: "These people, these vandals, which we could call fanatical Nazis, fanatical fascists, have done what has never been done in the history of this country."

And he continued: "It is necessary that these people are punished in an exemplary manner, so that no one ever dares - with the national flag on their back or with the t-shirt of the Brazilian national team - to pretend to be nationalists".

Lula blamed former President Jair Bolsonaro for the events: "This genocide not only provoked this, not only stimulated it, but who knows, it's still stimulating it through social media".

During his reign, Jair Bolsonaro repeatedly attacked the Federal Court of Justice, insulted Minister Alexandre de Moraes and defended military intervention. He did not accept the panel's investigations into various complaints against his allies, including the spread of fake news.

His son Eduardo Bolsonaro even threatened the AI-5 (dictatorship's violent decree) in an interview on Leda Nagle's YouTube channel in response to the street protests against his father's government.

Representatives from all over the world condemned the invasion of the Three Powers last Sunday (January 8th) in Brasilia. Among them was the President of the United States, Joe Biden.

“The use of force against democratic institutions is always unacceptable. We are allied with President Lula to demand an immediate end to these actions," said Joe Biden.

On behalf of the European Union, Ambassador Ignacio Ybánez pledged "full support for the Brazilian institutions". The United Nations also showed its position through the message of rapporteur Clement Voule: "We condemn such practices and any attempt to undermine democratic voting in Brazil".