Man dead in explosions after failed attack on Brazil's Supreme Court

A man killed himself while detonating explosives after trying to enter Brazil’s Supreme Court in an attack on the political heart of the country that prompted the evacuation of court staff and legislators in the capital Brasilia, officials said on Nov 13.

Officers found explosives and a timer attached to the man’s body and are conducting an X-ray assessment to determine whether there is further danger from possible explosives on his belt, a military police spokesperson was quoted as saying.

“If there are explosives, we will decide whether we cut the belt or if there is a risk of a new explosion, or if we need to take other measures to neutralize the explosives,” Major Raphael van der Broocke told reporters.

The Three Powers Plaza, home to all three branches of Brazil’s government, was blocked off Nov 13 evening after two explosions were detonated. Police have launched an investigation and a sweep of the area.

The first explosion originated in a car at 7:30 p.m. local time, Celina Leão, vice-governor of the Federal District told reporters late Nov 13. CNN Brasil news channel earlier reported the blast took place on a street next to Annex 4 of the nearby Congress.

The suspect then tried to enter the Supreme Court building, but was unable to, and a second explosion was detonated outside the door, Leão added. There were no other victims of the attack, she said.

The vice governor was quoted as saying police were investigating the incident as a suicide attack as there were no other suspects or people potentially involved.

One line of investigation being pursued is whether this was a “lone wolf” attack, Leão said.

A car found at the scene was registered to the same person authorities believe to be the attacker, Leão said.

Police also found a backpack that could also contain explosives nearby, and more explosives were found near a traffic cone in the area, military police spokesperson Broocke said.

Earlier, CNN Brazil reported an eyewitness saw a man with a backpack near the Supreme Court.

According to the news channel, the court’s justices and Congress had been evacuated following the explosions.

The incident comes five days before Brazil gets ready to host global leaders for the Group of 20 (G20) major economies in Rio de Janeiro. Chinese leader Xi Jinping is scheduled to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for a state visit in Brasilia on Nov 20, and US President Joe Biden is set to visit the Amazon rainforest on Nov 17 before attending the G20.

Attorney General Jorge Messias condemned the attack, saying federal police would “investigate the explosions in the perimeter of the Three Powers Plaza with rigor and urgency.”