Brazil’s Police Say Over 1,800 Participants of Anti-Government Protests Detained
Supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro demonstrate during a blockade on Castelo Branco highway, on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil, on November 1, 2022. (Photo by CAIO GUATELLI / AFP)
MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) – Brazil’s Federal Police said on Wednesday that a total of 1,843 participants of anti-government protests, held by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro in the country’s capital Brasilia on January 8, have been detained.
"A total of 1,843 people have been taken by the Military Police of the Federal District to the National Police Academy. All detainees have been identified by the Federal Police and will be charged under their duties for crimes of terrorism, criminal conspiracy, attempt on the democratic state of law, coup d'état, pursuance, incitement to crime, and other," the police said on the website.
The police added that 1,159 of those detained have been identified, interrogated, and arrested. They have been handed over to the country’s civil police for medical examination and further distribution in penitentiary facilities. Some 209 people were arrested on the day of the protests. © AFP 2023 / SERGIO LIMARiots in Brazil
Riots in BrazilThe police said, after the last 57 hours of sustained work and the mobilization of some 550 police officers, that it was the largest judicial operation in history. Bolsonaro lost the presidential election in Brazil in October and left for the United States in late December. He did not participate in the inauguration of his successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on January 1. Bolsonaro’s supporters, rallying against the election results since their announcement, stepped up the protest last week and attempted to storm several government buildings on Sunday. Police regained control of the buildings by the evening.
