RIO DE JANEIRO, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The entourage of Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was hit by gunshots on Tuesday in southern Brazil, his Workers' Party said.
One of the buses in a caravan for Lula's campaign tour was shot at four times in Brazil's southern state of Parana. No one was injured, and reportedly Lula was not in one of the buses.
Lula, president of Brazil from 2003 to 2010, has been traveling around the country seeking support for another presidential run in October. However, the buses in which Lula's campaign group travels have already been hit at with rocks and eggs along the tour.
On his Twitter account, the former president called the attackers "fascists."
"Our caravan is being stalked by fascist groups. They have thrown eggs and rocks. Today they even shot at the bus," the tweet read.
"A bus was hit, and President Lula might have been in there. Congressmen could have been there. Journalists, both Brazilians and foreigners, are in the group. We cannot accept that. This is a political attack in an escalation of violence in Brazil," said Federal Representative and formerly Human Rights Minister Maria do Rosario.
The local police are investigating the case, which the Workers' Party's President Gleisi Hoffmann called an ambush. Public Security Minister Raul Jungmann said he asked the local authorities to double their efforts on the case.
The Workers' Party is considering the case an attempt against Lula's life. The former president has the lead in the polls for the upcoming presidential election, but he may not be allowed to run, as he has been recently found guilty of corruption and money laundering.
Lula's lawyers are currently appealing the decision in order to keep him out of jail until all possible appeals are judged.
