BRASILIA (Reuters) – A man carrying explosives died after trying to enter Brazil's Supreme Court building on Wednesday, officials said.
These explosions come five days before the opening of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. Chinese President Xi Jinping will then make a state visit to Brasilia, the Brazilian capital.
The first explosion occurred Wednesday evening in a parking lot adjacent to the building. The second explosion, at the scene of which the man's body was found, occurred in front of the building.
Federal District Deputy Governor Celina Leao said initial information suggested the man killed himself with explosives after trying to enter the Supreme Court.
She added that the man owned a vehicle parked nearby in which the other explosion occurred.
Celina Leao said she hoped the man was a “lone wolf”, but that she could not say for sure. Police said they had not yet been able to identify the man, although explosives were still on his body.
The explosions occurred near the famous Three Powers Square, located between the National Congress building, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace.
Federal police said they had deployed a bomb disposal team to the scene to investigate the explosions.
The Supreme Court judges, who had just finished a plenary session, were evacuated quickly and safely, the court said in a statement.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva left the presidential palace shortly before the explosions.
(French version Camille Raynaud)
par Anthony Boadle, Andre Romani et Victor Borges
