Riots in Brazil after the arrest of a supporter of Bolsonaro

The clashes take place after the accreditation of Lula's electoral victory

MADRID, 13 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

A group of demonstrators sympathetic to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro staged riots in Brasilia on Monday night by setting fire to vehicles and trying to invade the headquarters of the Federal Police, after the arrest of a Bolsonaro supporter hours after the accreditation of the electoral victory by Lula da Silva.

The Police have used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the protesters, who have responded by throwing sticks and stones at the agents.

At least one person has been injured in the confrontation, in which several buses have been set on fire and dozens of cars have been destroyed, reports the Brazilian newspaper 'O Globo'.

The District Public Security Secretariat has blocked several streets in the city as a "preventive measure" and to "control riots, traffic and possible fires", in response to acts of vandalism carried out by protesters, reports the Brazilian media UOL.

In addition, the authorities have reinforced security in the vicinity of the hotel where President-elect Lula da Silva was staying.

The protests have begun after Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered the detention of José Acácio Serere Xavante, known as 'Tserere', for ten days for allegedly organizing protests against the election results.

The PF has indicated that "the prisoner is accompanied by lawyers and all the formalities related to the detention are being adopted in accordance with the legislation, safeguarding the physical and moral integrity of the detainee."

Likewise, it has reported that the riots in the vicinity of its headquarters "are being contained with the support of other security forces."

The future Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino, has condemned the attacks: "The depredation and the attempted invasion of the Federal Police building in Brasilia is unacceptable," he indicated.

"Judicial orders must be complied with by the Federal Police. Those who consider themselves harmed must offer adequate resources, never practice political violence," Dino assured.

For his part, the current holder of said portfolio, Anderson Torres, has asserted tonight that "everything will be investigated and clarified", in the framework of the protests in which the Federal Police have tried to contain the violence and restore order together to local and national authorities.

"Nothing justifies the unfortunate scenes that we saw in the center of Brasilia. The federal capital is traditionally the scene of peaceful and orderly demonstrations. And it will continue to be so!", he added, while showing his support for the agents of the police force .

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received his credentials as the future president of the country on Monday, thus certifying that the elections held last October were legal and that the inauguration will take place on January 1.

Moraes, at the ceremony held at the agency's headquarters in the Brazilian capital, stressed that those responsible for the attacks on democracy will be identified and held accountable.