Brazilian authorities arrest key figures of the January 8 uprising
Brazil’s Federal Police apprehended around ten individuals involved in the January 8 upheaval in Brasilia.
This event saw thousands of extreme supporters storming key capital buildings, attempting to disrupt the commencement of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration.
The police’s latest move aims to “pinpoint those who provoked, engaged in, and championed the events of January 8 in Brasilia.”
The official report mentions the execution of “ten preventive arrest orders and 16 search and document seizure warrants.”
The investigated actions could be recognized as crimes related to the violent dissolution of democratic order, coup d’état, organized crime, destruction of protected assets, and terrorism.
Local media report that among the detainees are two internet personalities, a religious leader, and a singer.
They leveraged their online popularity, encouraging their vast audience to participate in the uprising.
These individuals shared messages on social media hinting at the “Selma party” preparations, a codeword for a major right-wing gathering in Brasilia that would culminate in the storming of the National Congress, Federal Supreme Court, and the Planalto Palace (government headquarters).
On January 8, 2023, supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro besieged the Planalto Palace and National Congress in Brasilia, opposing Lula da Silva’s recent inauguration.
The protesters breached security lines, clashing with the police who responded by using pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
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This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief