A man who failed to enter Brazil’s Supreme Court killed himself Wednesday in explosions outside the building, forcing judges and staff to evacuate, authorities said.
The two loud explosions were heard around 7:30 p.m. after the day’s session ended and all judges and staff left the building safely, Brazil’s Supreme Court said in a statement.
Local firefighters confirmed that a man died at the scene in the capital Brasilia, but could not identify him.
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Celina Leão, lieutenant governor of Brazil’s Federal District, said the suspect had already detonated explosives in a car in a Congressional parking lot, which did not cause any injuries.
“His first action was to blow up the car. Then he went to the Supreme Court and tried to enter the building. He failed, then there were other explosions,” Leão said during a press conference.
Local media reported that the car that exploded belonged to a member of the Brazilian Liberal Party, the same as former President Jair Bolsonaro. Leão said only investigations will determine whether the owner of the car is the same man who died in the explosions.
Leão recommended that Congress be closed on Thursday to avoid further risks. Brazil’s Senate has responded to his call and the lower house will be closed until noon, President Arthur Lira said.
“It could have been a lone wolf, like others we have seen around the world,” Leão told a news conference. “We consider it a suicide because there was only one victim. But the investigations will show if this was indeed the case.”
Leão added that only forensic doctors would be able to identify the body, which remained in front of the Supreme Court for three hours after the explosions.
The explosions outside the Supreme Court occurred about 20 seconds apart in Brasilia’s Three Powers Square, where Brazil’s main government buildings are located, including the Supreme Court, Congress and the presidential palace.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was not present at the nearby presidential palace at the time, spokesman José Chrispiniano said.
Police blocked all access to the area and the presidential security office conducted a search of the grounds around the presidential palace.
Brazil’s federal police said they were investigating and did not provide a motive.
In recent years, the Supreme Court has become the target of threats from far-right groups and supporters of Bolsonaro’s party. due to its repression on the dissemination of false information. In particular, judge Alexandre de Moraes was at the center of their anger.
Lula’s spokesman said that on Wednesday evening the left-wing leader was meeting at the presidential residence with federal police chief Andrei Rodrigues and Supreme Court judges Moraes and Cristiano Zanin.
