Brasilia
Brazil’s ex-justice minister arrested over riots
Former Brazilian Justice Minister Anderson Torres has been arrested upon re-entry. photo
© Eraldo Peres/AP/dpa
Anderson Torres is considered a confidant of ex-President Bolsonaro. Most recently, he was in charge of the federal district of Brasília – where a right-wing mob stormed Congress. Torres is now in custody.
After the attack on Brazil’s government district, the capital’s former security chief and ex-justice minister has been arrested. Anderson Torres, who was fired as head of security for the federal district of Brasília after the riots last Sunday, was arrested there on Saturday at the airport after arriving from the US state of Florida, the national police said. The Supreme Court had issued an arrest warrant against him on suspicion of omissions and toleration in connection with the riots.
Supporters of right-wing ex-head of state Bolsonaro stormed the congress, the seat of government and the Supreme Court in the capital Brasília on Sunday. They rioted in offices and boardrooms, causing extensive damage. The security forces brought the situation back under control hours later. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva accused parts of the police and military of collaborating with the attackers.
Bolsonaro lost to left-wing politician Lula in the runoff last October and left office at the turn of the year. Even before the election, he had repeatedly cast doubt on the electoral system without presenting any evidence. So far he has not explicitly acknowledged his defeat. Two days before the end of his term on New Year’s Day, he flew to the United States with his family. The Supreme Court announced investigations into Bolsonaro on Friday.
According to media reports, Torres returned to Brazil on Saturday from the US city of Miami. He had been justice minister from March 30, 2021 until the end of Bolsonaro’s term, after which he resumed his previous post as Brasília’s security chief. Governor Ibaneis Rocha fired Torres on Sunday and was himself suspended by the Supreme Court on Monday.
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