As concerns grew over how demonstrators broke into government buildings and caused mayhem inside over the weekend, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva joined a rising chorus of charges against the nation’s security services.
During a meeting with governors on Monday, Lula claimed that “The Brasilia police neglected [the attack threat], Brasilia’s intelligence neglected it”
“It is easy to see in the footage the police officers talking to the attackers. There was an explicit connivance of the police with the demonstrators,”said he. He also promised to track down the demonstrators’ financiers.
On Sunday, protesters backing far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro surrounded the Supreme Court, the presidential residence, and Congress, demanding that the military step in and remove the leftist hero Lula da Silva, who took office again after a 12-year absence after narrowly defeating Bolsonaro in a runoff election last October.
By Shared video from the attack appeared to show police standing by as demonstrators marched into the buildings.
While investigating allegations that security and intelligence officers conspired with the protestors, Brazilian authorities have been rushing to apprehend the criminals
