1000s of Bolsonaro's supporters raid Brazil Congress, surround presidential palace

In a dramatic escalation of the political situation in Brazil, thousands of supporters of the country's former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro have forced their way into the country's Congress and Supreme Court, while surrounding the presidential palace in the capital Brasilia.

The storming took place on Sunday, with the local media outlets estimating that some 3,000 of the former president's supporters had taken part in the raids.

Dramatic footage showed the attackers pushing through police barricades and making their way onto the roof of the parliament, as well as storming many nearby buildings such as the Supreme Court and the Planalto Palace.

During the incident, Lula was far from the capital, on an official trip to Sao Paulo state. 

The Supreme Court was ransacked by the occupiers, according to social media images that showed protesters shattering the windows of the building.

On Saturday, with rumors of a confrontation brewing, Justice Minister Flávio Dino authorized the deployment of the National Public Security Force.

On Sunday, he wrote on Twitter, "This absurd attempt to impose the will by force will not prevail."

Following the incident, Brazil's security forces clashed with Bolsonaro's supporters, using tear gas in an effort to control the situation and disperse the demonstrators.

It was later announced that all the attacked buildings had been cleared of assailants.

Reacting to this development, President Lula da Silva condemned the invasion of Brazil's Congress, Supreme Court and presidential palace by supporters of Bolsonaro, describing them as "fascist fanatics."

Lula also signed a decree declaring a federal intervention in Brasilia and giving his government special powers to restore law and order in the capital.

MG