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Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The former head of state was sentenced of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and handed more than a 27-year term in jail, but he continued under confinement pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" were revealed.

This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a document approving the arrest, the magistrate said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his child.

His child, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

The senator wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's decision was the possibility of the former president's move to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to request asylum through a consular facility", a statement said.

The court filing highlights that the US embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, prompting him to implement 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 Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also requested that he be permitted to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

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

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the military leaders. Lula was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the national capital, Brasília.

The security forces stepped in and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the time, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 national vote.