Dozens of suspects arrested in connection with the 8 January riot

Brazil’s Attorney General has indicted 39 individuals for their involvement in the storming and destruction of the Senate Building on 8 January.

After Jair Bolsonaro’s election loss last year, thousands of his supporters attacked government buildings.

The indictment states that the accused used violence and threats to abolish democracy.

Bolsonaro acknowledged that he regretted the unrest, but denied that it was his fault.

In a country that ended military rule in 1985, perceived threats to democracy are a delicate subject.

The far-right leader, who has been in the United States since leaving Brazil to avoid the inauguration ceremony of his successor, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva (often called Lula).

Bolsonaro supporters were shocked by Lula’s victory in October’s elections. Lula, a former president was found guilty in 2017 of corruption and sentenced to time in prison until his convictions were overturned.

Following the violence of 8 January, hundreds of arrests were made. During which time the Presidential Palace, Congress and Supreme Court were vandalised by rioters who forced their way in.

Several police officers sustained injuries, and President Lula and other world leaders condemned the scene.

Authorities in Brasília have pledged to more than double the security presence at locations that came under attack.

Monday’s indictment was presented to the Supreme Court and accused 39 individuals of crimes including damage to public property and coup activities.

The filing claimed that it was impossible to show that the group had violated antiterror laws, despite earlier suggestions by government officials that such suspects could face criminal charges.

To cover the cost of repairs to damaged buildings, the attorney general placed a freeze on assets worth $7.7m.

Bolsonaro referred in a speech to a Florida group of supporters, as quoted by the Reuters news agency. He called the scenes “unbelievable” during the address.

During an apparent discussion about what happened, the ex-army captain stated: “Unfortunately people learned, understood politics, got to know political power, and started to value liberty.”

The Supreme Court already stated that it would investigate whether the former president encouraged violence, something he strongly denies.

Separate investigations are being conducted into Mr Bolsonaro’s comments while he was in office, and alleged anti-democratic remarks.

The ex-leader seemed to acknowledge his mistakes during his presidency in his most recent remarks. He acknowledged that there are “holes” in his presidency, but he also admitted that he made some mistakes at home.