Brazilian Federal Police launch fourth phase of Jan. 8 riots probe
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The Brazilian police say they served three preventive arrest warrants and 14 search and seizure warrants issued by the Federal Supreme Court.
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A Brazilian Federal Police officer serving a search warrant (Brazilian Federal Police's Twitter account)
The Brazilian Federal Police launched on Friday the fourth phase of Operation Lesa Patria aimed at identifying people who participated in, financed, or encouraged the January 8 riots, which saw supporters of the right-wing former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro storm three government buildings in the federal capital, Brasilia.
In a statement, the Federal Police indicated that "Operation Lesa Patria is becoming permanent, with regular updates on the number of arrest warrants issued, people captured and fugitives."
A Polícia Federal deflagrou hoje (3/2) a quarta fase da Operação Lesa Pátria, com o objetivo de identificar pessoas que participaram, financiaram ou fomentaram os fatos ocorridos em 8/1, em Brasília/DF.
— Polícia Federal (@policiafederal) February 3, 2023
➡️https://t.co/gFZZ9eRboj pic.twitter.com/0VjSZEZSaP
The police said they carried out raids in the states of Rondonia, Goias, Espirito Santo, Mato Grosso, and Sao Paulo, as well as in the Federal District, adding that they were serving three preventive arrest warrants and 14 search and seizure warrants issued by the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
According to the teleSUR news network, the STF issued 11 arrest warrants and 27 search warrants against suspects during the third phase of Operation Lesa Patria, which was completed on January 27.
On Thursday, left-wing Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Bolsonaro actively participated in planning the riots.
Refusing to accept Bolsonaro's election loss, thousands of his backers broke into the presidential palace, Congress, and Supreme Court buildings in Brasilia a week after Lula's inauguration.
Lula's remarks against Bolsonaro -- who has been in the US state of Florida since late December -- came the same day that Brazilian Senator Marcos do Val accused the former President of attending a meeting on how to prevent the handover of power.
According to Do Val, the plan was to force Superior Electoral Court President Alexandre de Moraes to say something incriminating while secretly recording him.
De Moraes is a favorite target of Bolsonaro supporters, who claim that he interfered in the election to help Lula.
Do Val, a former Bolsonaro ally, initially told Veja magazine that it was Bolsonaro who presented the plan to him, but later said that the former President remained "silent" during the meeting.
His accusations dominated local news on Thursday, and Do Val was called in to give statements to the Federal Police.
Bolsonaro, who has requested a six-month visa to remain in the United States, remains under investigation as part of a sprawling probe of the January 8 riots.
