At least one explosion outside Brazil’s Supreme Court killed one person and forced judges and staff to evacuate the building in the capital, Brasilia, police and firefighters said.
A police statement said that an artifact exploded outside the court, without providing further details. Local firefighters confirmed one person died at the scene, but did not identify the victim.
The court’s judges and staff left the building safely after the incident, which occurred at approximately 7:30 pm local time, shortly after the end of Wednesday’s session. Jorge Macedo, a clerk at the Brazilian Supreme Court, confirmed the eviction to The Associated Press.
Local media showed footage indicating that two explosions occurred outside the court, with 20 seconds passing between the first and second explosions.
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In recent years, the Supreme Court has become the target of threats due to its crackdown on the spread of false information amid deep polarization in Brazil.
Jose Crispignano, spokesman for President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, said the 79-year-old was not in the nearby presidential palace at the time of the explosion.
Police blocked all access to the area where Brazil’s Supreme Court, Congress and Presidential Palace are located.
Local newspapers reported that the Presidential Security Office was conducting a combing operation in the lands surrounding the presidential palace.
Earlier, another explosion was heard outside the Brazilian Congress, but it clearly caused no damage.
& Edition 2024 The Canadian Press
