Dramatic moment protesters storm Brazil’s Congress and presidential palace over election result as cops fire tear gas
FURIOUS protesters have stormed Brazil’s Supreme Court, the Congress building and the presidential palace.
Cops fired tear gas at supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro as they smashed their way through barricades in a dramatic protest against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s inauguration last week.
Thousands of demonstrators climbed on the roofs, broke windows and destroyed furniture as they stormed all three government buildings.
Local media estimate about 3,000 people are involved in the protests in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia.
The area around the parliament building had been cordoned off by security forces – and cops fired tear gas to try and push demonstrators back.
But protesters – who refuse to accept Lula’s election victory – smashed through the fences, marched up the ramps and gathered on a roof of the building.
Images showed a tide of people storming the national Congress, with many waving Brazilian flags.
Some reached the Senate chamber, where they jumped onto seats and used benches as slides.
The building is where Brazil’s Senate and Chamber of Deputies conducts its legislative business.
Other footage showed protesters roaming around the presidential palace.
Bolsonaro, who was narrowly defeated by Lula in the second round of the presidential election on October 30, left Brazil at the end of the year and travelled to Florida.
Bolsonaro supporters have been protesting against Lula’s electoral by blocking roads, setting vehicles on fires and gathering outside military buildings.
Many claim the election results were fraudulent or unreliable.
Some protesters called for military intervention to restore the far-right Bolsonaro to power.
Many have drawn comparisons with the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 by supporters of Donald Trump – an ally of Bolsonaro.
Justice Minister Flavio Dino said: “This absurd attempt to impose their will by force will not prevail.
“The government of the Federal District has ensured there will be reinforcements. And the forces at our disposal are at work.”
In Lula’s inauguration speech, he vowed to rebuild a country in “terrible ruins”.