Federal police in Brazil are investigating after a pair of explosions rocked the heart of the country’s capital Brasília, causing at least one fatality. The explosions occurred near the Federal Supreme Court, prompting the evacuation of the building and deployment of police units to the area to secure the scene. The motive behind the attack remains unknown, and no suspects have been identified as of yet. Local media reports indicate that the explosions took place near the Supreme Court and along a street near an annexe building, where a car was parked. Witnesses reported seeing smoke coming from the car’s trunk prior to the second explosion in front of the court.
The incident at the Three Powers Plaza, which houses Brazil’s federal government institutions, including the presidential palace, Congress buildings, and the Supreme Court, has raised concerns among officials and the public. The Chamber of Deputies, which was in session at the time of the explosions, announced the suspension of its activities until security could be restored. The timing of the attack, just days before Brazil is set to host the G20 summit with delegations from around the world, has heightened worries about the safety and security of the upcoming event. The plaza’s architecture, consisting of glass buildings housing major government institutions, is considered vulnerable to such attacks.
The Three Powers Plaza has been a site of political violence in recent years, including a riot in January 2023 that was seen as an attack on democracy. The riot occurred shortly after President Lula’s inauguration and was blamed on false claims of election interference spread by his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. The Supreme Court’s investigation into Bolsonaro’s role in the riot and subsequent legal issues have made the court a target of backlash from his supporters. Last year, the Superior Electoral Court barred Bolsonaro from holding public office until 2030 for abuses of power while president. This decision has fueled tensions between Bolsonaro’s supporters and figures like Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has led inquiries into the 2023 attack and other issues.
Supporters of Bolsonaro have accused Moraes of political bias and overstepping his authority, leading to protests and calls for his removal. Bolsonaro himself has criticized Moraes as a dictator and a threat to Brazil’s democracy, further polarizing the political landscape. The ongoing tensions between Bolsonaro’s supporters and government institutions like the Supreme Court have created a climate of uncertainty and instability in Brazil, with the recent explosions at the Three Powers Plaza adding to concerns about the safety of public officials and government buildings. The investigation into the explosions and the continued fallout from past political events are likely to shape Brazil’s political landscape in the coming months.
