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| Brazil Congress: How did police respond to the protest? | Brazil Congress: How did police respond to the protest? |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Just one week after the inauguration of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as president of Brazil, thousands of supporters of the previous incumbent, Jair Bolsonaro, stormed the country's Congress, Supreme Court and presidential palace. | Just one week after the inauguration of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as president of Brazil, thousands of supporters of the previous incumbent, Jair Bolsonaro, stormed the country's Congress, Supreme Court and presidential palace. |
| The president said security forces in the capital, Brasília didn't do enough to stop them. We've looked into the key moments and how the police responded. | The president said security forces in the capital, Brasília didn't do enough to stop them. We've looked into the key moments and how the police responded. |
| The march towards Congress | The march towards Congress |
| Since the narrow election win in October by the left-wing president, better known as Lula, supporters of his right-wing rival had been setting up camps in front of military barracks in many cities around the country. | Since the narrow election win in October by the left-wing president, better known as Lula, supporters of his right-wing rival had been setting up camps in front of military barracks in many cities around the country. |
| His most ardent supporters have been calling for the army to intervene and overturn the election result. | His most ardent supporters have been calling for the army to intervene and overturn the election result. |
| Then over the weekend, thousands of people gathered outside the army barracks in Brasília, many of them brought in by bus. | Then over the weekend, thousands of people gathered outside the army barracks in Brasília, many of them brought in by bus. |
| President Lula called on local security forces to remove these protesters, but police had opted to not use force. | President Lula called on local security forces to remove these protesters, but police had opted to not use force. |
| On Sunday afternoon, the protesters set off on a march towards the complex of government buildings. Video footage shows the march peacefully under way, with military police escorting them along the 7km (four mile) route. | On Sunday afternoon, the protesters set off on a march towards the complex of government buildings. Video footage shows the march peacefully under way, with military police escorting them along the 7km (four mile) route. |
| We have asked the police authorities in Brasília whether the protesters had been granted official permission to march along this route ahead of time. We haven't yet received a response. | We have asked the police authorities in Brasília whether the protesters had been granted official permission to march along this route ahead of time. We haven't yet received a response. |
| Breaking through barriers | Breaking through barriers |
| The protesters arrived at barriers blocking access to the complex of government buildings known as "Praça dos Três Poderes" (Three Powers Square). | The protesters arrived at barriers blocking access to the complex of government buildings known as "Praça dos Três Poderes" (Three Powers Square). |
| A video verified by the BBC shows only a single line of metal barriers across a road through a relatively open area. | A video verified by the BBC shows only a single line of metal barriers across a road through a relatively open area. |
| One of the policemen can be seen pulling out what appears to be tear gas, spraying it at the protesters, who quickly force their way through. | One of the policemen can be seen pulling out what appears to be tear gas, spraying it at the protesters, who quickly force their way through. |
| We have asked the police why they hadn't organised stronger barriers and mobilised more officers to control the situation once the protesters approached the government square. | We have asked the police why they hadn't organised stronger barriers and mobilised more officers to control the situation once the protesters approached the government square. |
| Entering the buildings | Entering the buildings |
| Once the barriers had been breached, crowds flooded onto ramps which led to the Congress building and the presidential palace. | Once the barriers had been breached, crowds flooded onto ramps which led to the Congress building and the presidential palace. |
| Police have been criticised for being too hands-off with the protesters as they streamed in. | Police have been criticised for being too hands-off with the protesters as they streamed in. |
| Two videos we've verified shows policemen taking pictures of the crowds as they walk up the ramps and into the Congress building. | Two videos we've verified shows policemen taking pictures of the crowds as they walk up the ramps and into the Congress building. |
| Another video shows a policeman being pulled from his horse by protesters as they approach the Congress building and thrown to the ground. | Another video shows a policeman being pulled from his horse by protesters as they approach the Congress building and thrown to the ground. |
| The National Congress and the presidential palace were breached just before 15:00 local time. | |
| Videos show protesters using security barricades to smash through several large windows before entering, spreading throughout both buildings and onto the roof of Congress. | |
| The BBC has also verified this video which shows police standing by as protesters walk up a staircase into the Congress building through the lower floor entrance. | |
| Police holding riot shields are standing on the right of the stairs, but they aren't protecting the main entrance and appear to be guarding a side corridor instead. | |
| One policeman waves the protesters through and gives them a thumbs up. As the crowd move forward into the building, some of them applaud the security personnel. | |
| From the police uniforms seen in the video it looks like they are part of the Policia Legislativa, the Federal police group that works inside Congress. | |
| Shortly afterwards, a group also smashed windows of the Supreme Court and entered the building. | |
| WATCH: Brazilian ex-president Bolsonaro's supporters smash Supreme Court windows | |
| WATCH: Brazilian ex-president Bolsonaro's supporters smash Supreme Court windows | |
| Destroying property | Destroying property |
| Images show that once inside the buildings, protesters destroyed furniture, equipment and works of art. | |
| Social media posts from the afternoon of 8 January clearly show scores of protestors both outside in the plaza and milling around inside buildings, in some cases with no police or security forces visible. | Social media posts from the afternoon of 8 January clearly show scores of protestors both outside in the plaza and milling around inside buildings, in some cases with no police or security forces visible. |
| Videos circulating on social media showed protesters trashing offices, smashing windows and doors, flipping furniture, and tossing computers and printers to the ground. | Videos circulating on social media showed protesters trashing offices, smashing windows and doors, flipping furniture, and tossing computers and printers to the ground. |
| Watch: Key moments as Bolsonaro supporters storm Brazil government buildings | |
| Watch: Key moments as Bolsonaro supporters storm Brazil government buildings | |
| Read more from Reality Check | Read more from Reality Check |
| Send us your questions | Send us your questions |