Bolsonaro supporters invade Brazil's Congress, Supreme Court and executive buildings

Videos show Bolsonaro supporters destroying an auditorium in the federal court building.

Published: January 8, 2023 2:01pm

Updated: January 8, 2023 4:04pm

Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro broke into buildings for Brazil's National Congress, Supreme Federal Court and the Planalto Palace, the presidential workplace, videos show, as some American politicians are comparing the event to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Protesters appear to have broken glass windows to enter the congressional building in Brasilia around 2:40 p.m. local time.

Brazilian reporter Renato Souza said President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was sworn into office last week, was not in the area.

Bolsonaro supporters invaded the federal court building around 3:45 p.m., according to local outlet Metropoles.

As law enforcement threw gas at the protesters, one demonstrator entering the court said, as translated: "God is on our side and will throw all the gas back to them."

Brazilian George Marques said, originally in Portuguese, that within an hour of invading the federal court, "nothing was left intact, everything destroyed" by the rioters.

The demonstrators also appear to have breached Brazil's Planalto Palace, where the president works.

Brasilia's governor, Ibaneis Rocha, asked for authorization to suspend electricity and water to the entire governmental area in case the protesters decide to extend their occupation of the buildings, Alerta News 24 reported.

One video from Brazilian reporter Ana Viriato shows police officers speaking to demonstrators and filming the riot from a distance.

Reports from Metropoles and Souza state that members of the press and government employees in the buildings are being attacked.

Some American politicians are comparing the incident to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

"Democracies of the world must act fast to make clear there will be no support for right-wing insurrectionists storming the Brazilian Congress. These fascists modeling themselves after Trump’s Jan. 6 rioters must end up in the same place: prison," tweeted Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), former House Jan. 6 committee member.