Lula Claims That Bolsonaro Allies Inside Capital Aided Brasilia Riot As Warrants Issued Against Former Officials

As Brazilian authorities seek to punish the people responsible for the riot at the three government buildings in Brasilia, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva accused government allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro to be complicit in allowing the incident to happen.

Lula believed that allies within the government for Bolsonaro had allowed the rioters to enter Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Presidential Palace, and has promised a thorough investigation into the matter to see who else may be responsible in this situation, according to the BBC.

“I am convinced that the door to the Planalto palace was opened so these people could get in because I didn't see the front door had been broken down. And that means that somebody facilitated their entry here,” Lula said.

In the wake of the attempted insurrection, the Brazilian government has been pursuing both the people who had participated in the riots and the people believed to be responsible for arranging it in the first place. Bolsonaro’s former Justice Minister Anderson Torres has already been issued an arrest warrant on Thursday after recently being fired from his role as security chief of the capital, France 24 reported.

Torres, who was on vacation in the U.S. when the riots occurred, has denied any responsibility for the incident, and is said to be returning to Brazil in order to defend himself from any charges.

Fabio Augusto, head of the military police of Brasilia, was also taken into custody after an arrest warrant was issued against him. The military has been accused of aiding and abetting the rioters during the incident and preventing them from being arrested by police officers, especially as footage has shown up of military officials exchanging angry words with other officials.

Lula has been firm on potentially looking into firing military officials who are loyal to Bolsonaro, saying that “[nobody] who is suspected of being a hardcore Bolsonarista can be allowed to remain in the palace.”

Over 1,500 people have been arrested for participating in the riots, and Justice Minister Flavio Dino said that 50 more arrest warrants have been issued for people who are believed to have helped organize the insurrection.