BRASÍLIA—The Brazilian official in charge of the capital’s security at the time of Sunday’s riots surrendered to police Saturday morning as judicial authorities investigate what they say are a web of suspects intent on overthrowing President
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Anderson Torres, who previously was justice minister under the right-wing government of former President
Jair Bolsonaro,
arrived in Brasília shortly after 7 a.m. from the U.S., where he had been on vacation since last week.
Federal police arrested Mr. Torres, who is accused of various security omissions that permitted supporters of Mr. Bolsonaro to vandalize the presidential palace, Congress and the Supreme Court in the capital last Sunday. Mr. Torres couldn’t be reached to comment. He issued a statement condemning the violence shortly after it took place and on Twitter said the truth will prevail.
The arrest comes a day after Brazil’s Supreme Court authorized an investigation into Mr. Bolsonaro over accusations from prosecutors that he incited last weekend’s riots by not conceding his defeat to Mr. da Silva in the Oct. 30 presidential election and for months before the vote asserted it could be stolen, without offering evidence.
A lawyer for Mr. Bolsonaro said the former president has always repudiated criminal acts and is a defender of the constitution and democracy.
Army officers stood guard outside the Planalto Palace in Brasília this week.
Photo:
AMANDA PEROBELLI/REUTERS
Mr. Torres was Mr. Bolsonaro’s justice minister until Mr. da Silva’s government took over Jan. 1. That day, Mr. Torres was appointed secretary in charge of public security in the capital of Brasília by the governor, Ibaneis Rocha, who is a Bolsonaro ally. In that position, Mr. Torres would have played a key role in planning and implementing security measures for Sunday’s event, according to investigators.
Supreme Court Justice
Alexandre de Moraes
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