"Brazil's federal police on Saturday arrested former president Jair Bolsonaro over suspicion he was plotting to escape and avoid starting a 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt. The decision laid bare some of the country's divisions, with many uncorking Champagne outside the far-right leader's prison to celebrate as his supporters prepared a religious act in his favor. In a dramatic and unexpected twist in the final stage of a long and divisive criminal trial,"
"Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the case on Bolsonaro's attempt to keep the presidency after his defeat to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2022, ordered the preemptive arrest after saying the far-right leader's ankle monitor was violated at 12:08 a.m. on Saturday. His lawyers claimed in a statement that did not take place. Bolsonaro, 70, who had been under house arrest, was ordered to wear the device after being deemed a flight risk."
"Police have since tried keep the small, but fierce, opposing sides separated. A protest organized by Bolsonaro's son alerted the justice De Moraes said the arrest was a preventive measure to avoid a potential escape during a protest organized by his son later Saturday. Are you going to fight for your country or are you going to watch it all from your cellphone in your home's sofa?, Flavio Bolsonaro said in a video inviting people to go outside his fathers' house at 7 p.m."
Federal agents entered Jair Bolsonaro's home early Saturday under Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes' order and took him to the federal police headquarters in Brasilia. De Moraes said Bolsonaro's ankle monitor was violated at 12:08 a.m., prompting a preemptive arrest; Bolsonaro's lawyers denied the violation. Bolsonaro, 70, had been under house arrest and was ordered to wear the device after being deemed a flight risk. Supporters gathered and some celebrated while others protested outside the police headquarters; dozens of cars honked and police worked to keep opposing sides separated. De Moraes said the arrest aimed to prevent a potential escape during a protest organized by Bolsonaro's son.
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