Members of the Military Police of the Federal District, Civil Police, and Judicial Police, guard the site where explosions occurred Wednesday at the Three Powers Plaza in Brasilia, Brazil. According to sources from the police, the explosions of two devices in Brasilia — detonated in front of the Supreme Court and near the Chamber of Deputies — were a suicide attack. Photo by Andre Borges/EPA-EFE
Nov. 13 (UPI) — Two explosions near Brazil’s Supreme Court and Congress forced evacuations Wednesday night with one man found dead in what some authorities are calling a suicide attack.
The Three Powers Plaza, which houses all three branches of Brazil’s government in Brasilia, was blocked off for an investigation after “two strong explosions were heard” near the court as Wednesday’s session was finishing at 7:30 p.m. local time. Justices and staff were quickly evacuated.
The lieutenant governor of Brazil’s federal district said the man who died was carrying explosives as he tried to enter the court.
“This citizen approached the Federal Supreme Court, tried to enter, failed and the explosion happened at the entrance,” Lt. Gov. Celina Leão told reporters.
“It could have been a lone wolf, like others we’ve seen around the world,” Leão said. “We are considering it as a suicide because there was only one victim. But investigations will show if that was indeed the case.”
Leão has recommended Congress be closed Thursday out of precaution.
One explosion was outside of the Supreme Court. The other blast, about 20 seconds later, occurred on a street near Annex 4 of the Congress, according to CNN Brazil.
The plaza, where the explosions occurred, also includes the presidential palace. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was not in the area at the time of the blasts, according to his spokesman.
“I vehemently repudiate the attacks against the Supreme Federal Court and the Chamber of Deputies,” Attorney General Jorge Messias wrote Wednesday night in a post on X. “I express my solidarity with the ministers and members of parliament.”
“The Federal Police will investigate the explosions in the perimeter of the Three Powers Square with rigor and speed,” Messias added. “We need to understand the motive for the attacks, as well as to restore peace and security as quickly as possible.”