Brazil's Lula Da Silva Says Protesters That Stormed Congress Will Face 'Full Force of the Law'

On January 8, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said protesters that stormed government buildings in Brazil’s capital would be “brought down with the full force of the law”, and signed a decree declaring federal intervention in Brasilia.

Hours earlier, supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro broke through barriers and clashed with police as they stormed into Brazil’s National Congress and Supreme court in Brasília.

“These vandals, who we could call fanatical Nazis, fanatical Stalinists … fanatical fascists, did what has never been done in the history of this country,” da Silva said in an address, as reported by Reuters. “All these people who did this will be found and they will be punished.”

The incident occurred one week after Luis Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as the country’s president.

The Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino, had earlier announced additional security in Brasília as a result of threats from Bolsonaro supporters.

At publication, Bolsonaro had not commented publicly on the protesters.

This is a developing story. Credit: President of Brazil via Storyful