Explosion at Brazilian Supreme Court Linked to Far-Right Extremism
An explosion outside Brazil’s Supreme Court in Brasilia is being investigated as a terrorist act, attributed to escalating far-right extremism and hate speech, according to a Supreme Court justice. Justice Alexandre de Moraes remarked that the incident is a consequence of the misuse of freedom of speech to offend and threaten institutions.
Federal Police Director Andrei Passos Rodrigues addressed the media, confirming that the explosion on Wednesday is seen as an attack on Brazil’s democratic rule of law. The perpetrator, who was identified as acting alone, attempted to enter the Supreme Court premises before the attack. However, Rodrigues noted the influence of extremist ideologies behind such actions.
“Even if the visible action is individual, behind that action there is never just one person. It’s always a group, or ideas of a group, or extremism, radicalism, that lead to committing those crimes,” said Passos Rodrigues. The investigation aims to uncover any potential networks or motivations related to the attack.
Security footage revealed the suspect approaching a statue outside the Supreme Court, where he detonated explosives. The incident resulted in the suspect’s death after igniting a third device. The suspect, hailing from Santa Catarina state, had been residing in Brasilia for several months. A subsequent police search of his residence led to another explosion triggered by a robotic inspection.
Further investigation disclosed that the suspect had initially detonated explosives in a Congress parking lot without causing harm, before proceeding to the Three Powers Plaza, which houses the Supreme Court, Congress, and the presidential palace. Reports identified him as a member of Brazil’s Liberal Party, associated with former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro has previously criticized the Supreme Court, particularly targeting Justice de Moraes. Following the attack, Bolsonaro condemned the act on social media, advocating for peaceful discourse over violence. “It is high time for Brazil to once again cultivate an environment suitable for different ideas to confront each other peacefully, and for the strength of arguments to be worth more than the argument of force,” he stated.
Justice de Moraes, known for his firm stance against political violence and misinformation, faces criticism for perceived overreach. He has led significant investigations into fake news and threats, resulting in bans and imprisonments of far-right figures. His leadership extended to the top electoral court, which declared Bolsonaro ineligible for office until 2030 due to abuse of power.
In the aftermath of Bolsonaro’s 2022 electoral defeat, his supporters infamously stormed government buildings, an event likened to the U.S. Capitol insurrection. The Supreme Court has since convicted hundreds involved in that uprising. De Moraes asserted that the recent explosion marks the most severe attack on the court since then.
Earlier this year, de Moraes ordered the suspension of the social media platform X, following clashes with its owner, Elon Musk, over content moderation. Although Musk criticized de Moraes as authoritarian, the platform was reinstated after judicial review.
As Brazil prepares to host the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Passos Rodrigues assured that security measures are heightened, with armed forces’ involvement to ensure safety. “I am going this afternoon, shortly, to Rio de Janeiro, where I will personally accompany all actions so we can have the absolute guarantee of security,” he affirmed.
