RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) Brazilian authorities vowed Monday to protect democracy and punish thousands of supporters of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro who stormed and trashed the nations highest seats of power in chaos with striking similarities to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

The protesters swarmed into Congress, the Supreme Court and presidential palace on Sunday. Many have said they want the Brazilian army to restore the far-right Bolsonaro to power and oust the newly inaugurated leftist Luiz Incio Lula da Silva.

Police broke down a pro-Bolsonaro encampment outside a military building Monday and detained some 1,200 people there, the justice ministrys press office told The Associated Press.

Lula and the heads of the Supreme Court, Senate and Lower House also signed a letter Monday denouncing acts of terrorism and vandalism and saying they were taking legal measures.

Justice Minister Flvio Dino told reporters that police have begun tracking those who paid for the buses that transported protesters to the capital. At the news conference late Sunday, Brazils minister of institutional relations said that the buildings would be inspected for evidence, including fingerprints and images, and that the rioters apparently intended to spark similar uprest nationwide.

They will not succeed in destroying Brazilian democracy. We need to say that fully, with all firmness and conviction, Dino said. We will not accept the path of criminality to carry out political fights in Brazil.