Two explosions outside Brazil’s Supreme Court Wednesday night forced the evacuation of justices and left one person dead in the square facing the courthouse, authorities said.
The first blast occurred in a car park next to the court building, with local television footage showing the explosion originated in a parked car’s trunk. A second explosion followed approximately 20 seconds later, according to local media, with police discovering a body in the square afterward. The victim’s connection to the incidents remains unclear.
Brazil’s solicitor general characterized the explosions as an “attack” on social media as police swept the area for additional explosive devices. The Supreme Court confirmed all justices were safely evacuated.
The incident occurred near Brazil’s presidential palace, with President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva having departed the premises minutes before the explosions. Local news outlet UOL reported witnessing a man near the front of the Supreme Court building with explosives, though the source of this information was not specified.
