Lula accuses police officers of collaborating with Bolsonaro supporters Lula names Amazon city as a candidate for world climate conference

After radical supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the government district in Brasília, Head of State Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva accused sections of the police and military of collaborating with the violent protesters.

Many people within the military police and armed forces of the Federal District colluded with the attackers, Lula told journalists on Thursday, according to the G1 news portal. For example, the door to the government seat Palácio do Planalto was opened for the violent demonstrators. “We will calmly investigate what really happened,” announced Lula.

Thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed the government district in Brasília on Sunday. They briefly seized the control centers of the country’s main state authorities, rioting in offices and boardrooms, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Videos showed police officers talking to Bolsonaro supporters and initially not intervening in the assault on Congress. It took security forces hours to regain control of the situation.

Lula also announced a review of the presidential palace staff. The ex-serviceman Bolsonaro brought numerous officers to government headquarters during his tenure. “We want to see if we can correct that and replace them with professional civil servants so that this becomes a civilian government again,” said the head of state. (sda/dpa)