Apparently a suicide attack in Brasilia

There were no other deaths or injuries. The identity of the perpetrator is still being determined.

Shortly before the G20 summit in Brazil, a suspected suicide attack took place in front of the Supreme Court in the capital Brasilia. According to preliminary information, a man first tried to break into the courthouse in the government district before killing himself with an explosive device, said the Vice Governor of the Federal District, Celina Leão. There were no injuries, Leão continued. The police said they had opened an investigation into the “attacks”.

According to Leão, a second detonation blew open the trunk of a car parked nearby, which is said to have belonged to the attacker. Police deployed a bomb disposal robot to search the area for further explosives. Authorities have since announced that they found no further explosives at the site of the explosion. A truck parked near the Brazilian lower house is still being examined for further threats.

A statement from the court previously said that two explosions were heard shortly after the end of a session, around 7:30 p.m. (local time). Judges and court staff evacuated the building.

Media: perpetrator is said to be a Bolsonaro supporter

Police said that the final identification of the dead man is still pending because the risk of further explosives on the body cannot be ruled out. Local media reported that the car whose trunk was blown open belonged to a man who is a member of Brazil’s Liberal Party – the party of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

The man is said to have announced on social networks that he wanted to plant a bomb in the “House of the Communists” and posted a picture of the court next to it. At the time of the attack, he was apparently wearing clothing with motifs of the comic character Joker. A party colleague told the media that the man had recently appeared confused. In the house where the man lived, according to the Brazilian police, the officers found further explosives, the government of the Federal District announced.

“It could have been a lone wolf”

Governor Leão said that only the investigation would show whether the owner of the vehicle was actually the man who died in the explosions. “It could have been a lone wolf,” said Leão. Nevertheless, she recommended closing Congress in order not to take any risks.

The Brazilian Senate followed Leão’s request, and the Chamber of Deputies will also remain closed until noon, according to its president, Arthur Lira. The Brazilian Federal Police said they were conducting investigations and did not initially give a motive.

Lula not in presidential palace during explosions

The explosions occurred at the Square of the Three Powers in Brasilia. The most important government buildings are also located there. The police blocked all access to the area. A spokesman for Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said the head of state was not in the neighboring presidential palace at the time of the explosion.

The G20 group will meet in Brazil starting next Monday. The heads of state and government are to meet in Rio de Janeiro, including US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. After that, Xi is to stay in the country as he is expected to make a state visit to the capital.

Trials against Bolsonaro supporters in court

The Supreme Court has been the target of verbal attacks from Bolsonaro supporters for years. The ex-president himself had also accused the court of obstructing his administration and preventing his re-election in 2022 through manipulation.

On January 8, 2023, angry Bolsonaro supporters stormed the government district and also vandalized the Supreme Court. So far, 265 people have been convicted by the Supreme Court for the attack. They are accused of plotting a coup against the elected President Lula da Silva. Further trials began last week.

Bolsonaro accuses the court of being excessively harsh in the prosecution of his supporters. He and other politicians are campaigning for an amnesty for those involved in the unrest in January 2023.

Bolsonaro speaks out after explosions in Praça dos Três Poderes

Francisco Wanderley Luiz, the perpetrator of the attack, had a political career linked to the PL, having previously run for city councilman

Former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) expressed his regret this Thursday (14) over the death of the man who blew himself up in Praça dos Três Poderes, emphasizing his opposition to any form of violence. He stressed the importance of reflecting on the explosions and called for dialogue between institutions, characterizing the event as a “tragedy” that should unite society. The perpetrator, Francisco Wanderley Luiz, 59, had a political career linked to the PL, having previously run for city councilman. Before his death, he had published messages related to the attack.