G20 Summit
A tragic incident unfolded outside Brazil’s Supreme Court on Wednesday evening, as a man took his own life with a bomb in an apparent suicide attack.
The explosion, which occurred just five days before Brazil is set to host the Group of 20 (G20) summit, has raised serious security concerns as the country prepares for an influx of world leaders.
The blasts come ahead of the anticipated state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Brazilian capital, Brasília.
The first of two explosions took place in a parking lot near the court building, and shortly thereafter, a second explosion rocked the area in front of the Supreme Court.
The body of the man, believed to be responsible for the bombings, was found in front of the building, and authorities suspect he had intended to enter the court before detonating the explosive device.
Celina Leao, the Vice Governor of the Federal District, shared that early investigations indicated the man had used explosives to kill himself after attempting to enter the Supreme Court.
Authorities later discovered that the man owned a car parked nearby, in which a further explosion had blown open the trunk. While the police were cautious in their assessment, Leao speculated that the incident might have been the act of a “lone wolf,” but she could not confirm this.
Given the severity of the situation, officials were still trying to confirm the identity of the deceased, while also handling the potential risk of additional explosives on his body.
The blasts occurred in the Plaza of the Three Powers, an iconic square in Brasília that is home to Brazil’s three branches of government.
This area is of particular significance, as it was the site of violent riots on January 8, 2023, when supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the government buildings in protest of his electoral defeat.
In response to the explosions, a bomb squad was swiftly deployed to the scene, along with an explosive disposal robot to assess any further dangers.
Fortunately, the Supreme Court justices had just concluded a plenary session and were safely evacuated after the blasts.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had left the executive palace earlier in the evening, just before the explosions occurred.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, which has shaken the capital and raised concerns about security at such a critical time.
