Clashes between Bolsonaro supporters and police in the Brazilian capital

RIO DE JANEIRO — Supporters of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro clashed with police on Monday, torching several vehicles and allegedly attempting to invade the federal police headquarters in the capital Brasilia.

Images of protesters, many sporting the yellow and green flag of Brazil that has become the symbol of Bolsonarism, have circulated on local television stations and social media.

The motives for the protests remained unclear, and police did not immediately respond to the AP’s request for comment.

Since Bolsonaro lost re-election to da Silva on October 30, his supporters have rallied across the country, refusing to concede defeat and calling on the armed forces to intervene. Earlier Monday, the country’s electoral authority awarded da Silva and his vice president an official certification, sealing their victory.

“The depredation and attempted invasion of the Federal Police building in Brasilia is unacceptable,” said Flavio Dino, future Minister of Justice and Public Security in the next administration of President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Full-dressed police were dispatched to federal police headquarters as reinforcements, as officers had to use stun grenades and rubber bullets, local media reported. The police also blocked several avenues and streets in Brasilia.

Elsewhere, protesters torched at least one bus and were seen assembling metal barriers.