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Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The one-time leader was sentenced of planning a government overthrow in last fall and given more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under house arrest pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after fresh information emerged.

This included attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his son.

His child, Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.

The senator wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative US President Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being detained in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the High Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to murder his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was prevented because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The law enforcement took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, restore order and return him to office.

At the period, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.

The former president called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the next presidential race.