Who is Anderson Torres, Jair Bolsonaro cabinet minister arrested for January 8 riots in Brazil?

Anderson Torres, 47, a former Brazilian minister who served in the cabinet of Jair Bolsonaro, has been arrested by authorities in connection with the January 8 riots in the country’s capital Brasilia, AFP has reported citing local media.

On January 8, hundreds of supporters of the former President attacked Brazil’s democratic institutions, including the Congress and the presidential palace. 

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Since then, judicial authorities of the South American country have ordered the arrests of several top public officials, including Torres, on grounds of them being “responsible for acts and omissions” for the violence that ensued.

Who is Anderson Torres?

Born in 1976, Anderson Torres is the former chief of Brazil’s federal police. He served as the  Minister of Justice and Public Security in the cabinet of former president Jair Bolsonaro.

He was a member of the Social Liberal Party since 2021, but later joined the Brazil Union when SLP and the Democrats merged into one entity.

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Torres is a graduate of the Central University of Brasília, from where he obtained a degree in law. He also specialised in police science and investigation at the country’s Superior School of War.

He has also been a professor at the National Academy of Police, the Federal District Military Police Academy, and Rondonia’s Civil Police Academy. 

Jair Bolsonaro nominated Torres as the Minister of Justice and Public Security on March 29, 2021. He served in the position till December 31, 2022.

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Torres was appointed the Secretary of Public Security of the Federal District on January 2, 2023, but was relieved of his duties on January 8 after the riots took place.