Praça dos Três Poderes, in Brasília, was isolated on Wednesday night (13) after two explosions – one in front of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) and another close to the Chamber of Deputies. The Fire Department confirmed that there is one death.
The explosions caused the emptying of the headquarters buildings of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) and the National Congress, in an incident described by authorities as an attack.
According to the vice-governor of the Federal District, Celina Leão, the first explosion occurred in a car parked near one of the Chambers’ annexes. Then, a second explosion occurred when explosives were detonated, carried by a man trying to enter the STF. The man died at the scene.
“Shortly after the explosion (in the car), the citizen approached the Supreme Court, where he tried to enter the building, was unable to enter the building and, in fact, there was an explosion at the door,” said Leão at a press conference.
Acting governor of the DF in the absence of governor Ibaneis Rocha, Leão stated that the area would remain completely isolated until the possibility of other explosive devices was ruled out.
“We are still operational at this time,” he said, adding that the bomb squad was still working in the area on Wednesday night.
According to the governor, security was reinforced around the perimeter of Praça dos Três Poderes and also at Palácio da Alvorada, the official residence of the President of the Republic, where President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was meeting with STF ministers Alexandre de Moraes and Cristiano Zanin and the general director of the PF, Andrei Rodrigues, to talk about what happened. Earlier, Lula had already spoken with the presidents of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG), and the Chamber, Arthur Lira (PP-AL).
It was not possible to officially identify the dead man immediately, as there were still explosive devices near the body, said the acting governor. There are indications, however, that the dead man is the owner of the car that exploded, said the secretary of the DF Civil House, Gustavo Rocha.
The Federal Police’s Scientific Technical Directorate identified the owner of the car with a Rio do Sul (SC) license plate as Francisco Wanderley Luiz, who was a candidate for councilor for the PL — party of former president Jair Bolsonaro — according to the Electoral Justice website.
A military police officer who was patrolling the location at the time, identified as Sergeant Santos by GloboNews, reported that he first saw smoke coming from the car and managed to see an individual getting out of the vehicle and running. He and legislative police tried to put out the smoke before the homemade devices inside the car completely ignited.
“It seems to me that the same individual who ran out of the vehicle was the same one who… I don’t know if he committed suicide there,” said the police officer in the TV interview.
The incident occurred just days before Brazil hosts the G20 summit next week in Rio de Janeiro, which is expected to bring together leaders of the world’s main economies, including United States President Joe Biden and Chinese President , Xi Jinping.
Authorities speak of “attacks”
The two explosions occurred at the end of this Wednesday’s STF session near the court. Ministers, civil servants and collaborators were removed from the site for security reasons.
In a note on the social network institutions are attacks on democracy and the Brazilian people.”
Even Governor Ibaneis Rocha, who is not part of the political camp of the Lula government, referred to the incident as “attacks”.
“What has just happened in Praça dos Três Poderes and in Annex 4 of the Chamber of Deputies is very serious,” said Rocha in a publication in X.
“All security and intelligence units of the Government of the Federal District are instructed to act rigorously and quickly to identify the author or authors, as well as the motivation for these attacks.”
In a statement, the Federal Police reported that it is investigating the explosions and that a police investigation will be launched to investigate the attacks.
“Police officers from the Tactical Operations Command (COT), the Ready-Intervention Group of the PF Regional Superintendence in the Federal District, experts and the institution’s Anti-Bomb Group were called in, who are conducting the initial security actions and analysis of the location”, recorded the note.
