Brazil Riots: Anderson Torres, Jair Bolsonaro's Former Security Chief, Arrested Over Alleged Collusion With Rioters

A former security chief in Brazil during Jair Bolsonaro's administration, Anderson Torres, was arrested during his return to Brazil. He was known to be in charge of security for the capital city when rioters stormed Congress, the presidential palace, and Supreme Court in Brazil riots on January 8.

Brazil's Supreme Court released a warrant last week on Torres, accusing him of collusion with rioters in Brazil riots, which attacked official government buildings. The ex-security chief denies the accusations, as reported by BBC News.

Brazil's Federal Police noted in its statement that Torres was arrested as he was disembarking the capital's airport at 7:15 local time.

Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said that Torres' omission was "amply proven by the predictability of the conduct of criminal groups."

De Moraes also cited the "lack of security," which allowed the invasion of public buildings.

The newly seated Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has also accused allies of Bolsonaro of aiding the Brazil riots attack the presidential palace.

Lula said that the presidential palace people were "complicit" in enabling the rioters to enter the government buildings.

The Brazilian president also promised to screen employees as part of efforts to ramp up the palace security.

Probe on Jair Bolsonaro

The country's Supreme Court has allowed to include Bolsonaro in its investigation of the Brazil riots.

Bolsonaro earlier posted a video questioning the legitimacy of Brazil's presidential election in Brazil.

Prosecutors noted that the former president could have committed a crime by making such statements, prompting them to ask the Supreme Court to include Bolsonaro in the investigation.

In the said video of Bolsonaro, the former president claimed that Lila was "not voted into office," but was chosen by the Supreme Court and Brazil's electoral authority.

The video was posted after the Brazil riots and was later on deleted.

The prosecutor general's office argued that the content of the video was enough to justify the probe on Bolsonaro.

De Moraes said that public figures who continue to "cowardly inspire" against democracy will be held accountable.

Bolsonaro's supporters were calling for a military coup after Lula has been seated as the president of Brazil.

Meanwhile, Bolsonaro flew to the United States after he refused to be part of the handover of power to Lula.

Brazil Riots

The January 8 riot in Brazil has sparked comparison with the January 6 Capitol riot, which took place during the certification of votes for U.S. President Joe Biden.

More than 1,150 rioters were arrested in Brazil after Lula and judicial authorities reasserted control.

Officials cleared encampments and gave refuge to the rioters while finding the funders and organizers of the mob.

It was reported that law enforcement officers did not only fail to take action against rioters but also seemed to be "sympathetic" and took photos of the mob as it breached Congress.

One man claimed that he was looking to see what was going on and the police "waved him on toward the riot," according to The New York Times.

Calls for protests were issued across social media platforms such as TikTok videos, Telegram channels, and WhatsApp groups.

One person reportedly sent a message in a Telegram group saying that the plan "is to surround Brasília."

The second official at Brazil's justice ministry, Ricardo Cappelli, said that it did not seem "serious," adding that it was "not big enough to be serious."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: How did the violence in Brazil unfold? - from Sky News