Brazil police detain 1,500 people after Bolsonaro supporters storm government buildings

Brazil's Justice Minister Flavio Dino told reporters Monday that "about 1,500" people had been detained for questioning in Brasilia since supporters of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro stormed government buildings in the capital Sunday.

Brazilian soldiers, backed by police, dismantled a camp of Bolsonaro supporters in the capital on Monday. They placed arrested people on buses bound for the federal police headquarters.

Thousands of Bolsonaro's backers had set off marching from the encampment before rampaging through Congress, the Supreme Court and presidential offices, smashing windows, furniture and artwork. They also stole guns and artifacts.

It was the worst attack on state institutions since Brazil's return to democracy in the 1980s.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Bolsonaro's leftist rival who took office on Jan. 1 after a narrow October election win, promised to bring those responsible for the violence to justice.

Lula, who was back at work at the ransacked Planalto Palace Monday, met with his defence minister and commanders of the armed forces to discuss the violence reminiscent of the assault on the U.S. Capitol two years ago by backers of former president Donald Trump.

Officials, police, social media sites face scrutiny

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the governor of Brasilia removed from office late on Sunday for 90 days over alleged security failings. He also ordered social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and TikTok to block accounts of users spreading anti-democratic propaganda.

Facebook parent Meta said on Monday it was removing content supporting or praising the weekend ransacking.

The assault raised questions among Lula's allies about how security forces in the capital were so unprepared and easily overwhelmed by rioters who had discussed plans on social media for days about gathering for weekend demonstrations.

The occupation of the government buildings had been planned for at least two weeks by Bolsonaro's supporters in groups on social media messaging platforms such as Telegram and Twitter, yet there was no move by security forces to prevent the attack, called by one group "the seizure of power by the people."

Messages seen by Reuters throughout the week showed members of such groups organizing meeting points in several cities around the country, from where chartered buses would leave for Brasilia, with the intention to occupy public buildings.

The plan included camping in front of Brasilia's army command headquarters, where demonstrators have been since October.

Lula, a former union organizer who was also president from 2003 to 2010, said the local militarized police force that reports to Brasilia Gov. Ibaneis Rocha, a former Bolsonaro ally, did nothing to stop the protesters advancing.

Justice Minister Flavio Dino said investigations would aim to uncover who financed the several hundred buses that brought Bolsonaro's supporters to Brasilia, and also probe Rocha for not preparing security.

Lula blamed Bolsonaro for inflaming his supporters with a campaign of baseless allegations about election fraud after the end of his rule, which was marked by divisive nationalist populism.

Bolsonaro hospitalized in U.S.

Meanwhile, Bolsonaro was admitted to a hospital in Orlando, Fla., on Monday with intestinal pains related to a stabbing he suffered during the 2018 election campaign, his wife, Michelle, said on Instagram. His doctor said he had an intestinal blockage that was not serious and would likely not need surgery.

Bolsonaro's future in the United States was also in question. He travelled there on a visa issued to heads of state, diplomats and other government officials about 48 hours before his presidential term ended.

The U.S. government declined to comment on Bolsonaro's visa specifically. U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said a person who entered on a visa for foreign officials must depart the country within 30 days or apply for a change of immigration status if they are no longer engaged in official business.

Following the assault on Brasilia, Bolsonaro said on Twitter that peaceful demonstrations were democratic but the invasion of government buildings "crossed the line."

U.S. President Joe Biden is now facing mounting pressure to expel Bolsonaro, including from Democratic lawmakers. The White House said on Monday it had yet to receive any requests from the Brazilian government regarding Bolsonaro's status.

By letting him stay, Biden invites criticism that the United States is harbouring a man accused by his successor of fomenting anti-democratic violence. But forcing out the former president of an allied state who entered the country in good faith with a top-tier visa poses awkward questions about due process.

The attacks on Sunday were condemned by several world leaders and governments.

At the the North American Leaders' Summit in Mexico, a joint statement was released Monday from Biden, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Mexico President Andres Manuel López Obrador.

"Canada, Mexico, and the United States condemn the January 8 attacks on Brazil's democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power," the three leaders said.

"We stand with Brazil as it safeguards its democratic institutions. Our governments support the free will of the people of Brazil. We look forward to working with President Lula on delivering for our countries, the Western Hemisphere, and beyond."