The Brazilian Supreme Court was evacuated this Wednesday, November 13 in the evening in Brasilia after two strong explosions of undetermined origin nearby, the court announced in a press release.
A person was found dead this Wednesday, November 13 near the Brazilian Supreme Court in Brasilia after two explosions of undetermined origin which rang out near the high court, police announced.
“We can confirm that there is a body before the Federal Supreme Court,” said a spokesperson for the federal police. An investigation has been opened. Authorities said the man was carrying explosives.
Earlier, in a statement, the court said that at the end of Wednesday's session, “two loud explosions were heard and the judges were evacuated from the building for safety.” Staff on site were also evacuated “as a precautionary measure”.
The closed residential palace
The Supreme Court is located in the Three Powers Square, the heart of Brazilian democracy, where it faces the presidential palace and the Parliament. The presidential palace is closed and no one can enter. The entire square is cordoned off by an imposing deployment of security forces.
Left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was not at the presidential palace at the time of the explosions.
On January 8, 2023, a week after Lula's return to power, thousands of supporters of Jair Bolsonaro, defeated in the presidential election at the end of 2022, stormed and ransacked the headquarters of institutions on the Place des Trois-Pouvoirs. The authorities had finally regained control of the situation.
Lula will host a G20 summit on Monday November 18 and Tuesday November 19 in Rio de Janeiro, bringing together most of the leaders of the world's main economies. On Wednesday, he is due to receive Chinese President Xi Jinping on a state visit to Brasilia.
