Attempted Breach of Brazil’s Supreme Court Ends in Explosions and Suicide
A failed intrusion into Brazil’s Supreme Court by an unidentified man culminated in a series of explosions outside the building in Brasília on Wednesday evening, leading to the man’s death, according to officials. The incident prompted an evacuation of justices and staff, who were unharmed.
Two loud blasts were reported around 7:30 p.m. following the conclusion of the court’s session. All personnel had already vacated the premises safely, as confirmed in a statement by Brazil’s Supreme Court.
Local firefighters verified that one individual perished at the scene but refrained from disclosing his identity.
Celina Leão, lieutenant governor of the federal district, explained that the suspect initially detonated a vehicle in a Congress parking area, an event that fortunately resulted in no injuries. “His first action was to explode the car. Then he approached the Supreme Court and tried to get in the building. He failed and then there were the other explosions,” Leão stated during a press briefing.
Reports from local media indicated that the vehicle belonged to a member of Brazil’s Liberal Party, the political affiliation of former President Jair Bolsonaro. However, Leão noted that further investigation is necessary to confirm if the car owner was indeed the deceased individual.
In light of potential threats, Leão advised the closure of Congress on Thursday. The Senate complied with this recommendation, while the lower house announced it would remain closed until noon, as stated by speaker Arthur Lira.
“It could have been a lone wolf, like others we’ve seen around the world,” Leão remarked, suggesting the incident might be a suicide due to the single casualty, though she emphasized that investigations would provide clarity.
The body of the deceased remained outside the Supreme Court for approximately three hours, pending forensic identification.
The explosions occurred merely 20 seconds apart at Three Powers Plaza, a central hub for Brazil’s key government institutions, including the Supreme Court, Congress, and the presidential palace.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was not present at the nearby presidential palace during the incident, as confirmed by his spokesperson, José Chrispiniano. Security measures included police blocking access to the area and a thorough inspection by the presidential security bureau.
Brazil’s federal police are actively investigating the event but have yet to disclose a possible motive. The Supreme Court has faced increasing hostility from far-right factions and Bolsonaro supporters due to its stringent measures against misinformation, with Justice Alexandre de Moraes often being a particular target.
Late Wednesday, President Lula convened at the presidential residence with federal police chief Andrei Rodrigues and Supreme Court Justices Alexandre de Moraes and Cristiano Zanin to discuss the situation.
