Twin blasts at Brazil's Supreme Court leave one dead

New Delhi, Nov 14: In Brazil’s capital, Brasília, on Wednesday evening, twin explosions took place outside the Supreme Court, leading to panic followed by swift evacuation of legal luminaries and cordoning off the area.

Local authorities reported discovering a dead individual near the court building, though details about the victim or the circumstances remain yet to be known.

The explosions rocked the Plaza de los Tres Poderes, a central zone in Brasília that houses Brazil’s key government institutions, including the Supreme Court, the presidential palace, and the parliament.

Initial reports suggest that a man attempted to enter the court but was stopped at the entrance shortly before the blasts occurred.

Brasília's Deputy Governor, Celina Leão, addressed the media shortly after the incident, indicating that the explosions appeared to be the result of a lone individual’s actions.

“It could have been a lone wolf, like others we’ve seen around the world,” she remarked, as reported by BBC adding that authorities are treating it as a potential suicide given that only one fatality was reported. However, she emphasised that further investigations would be necessary to confirm the exact circumstances.

The police cordoned off the area, and images from the scene showed the body lying near the court’s entrance. A spokesperson confirmed the presence of a deceased individual but refrained from providing additional information pending ongoing investigations.

Brazil’s Solicitor General, Jorge Messias, condemned the incident as reported by news agencies labelling it a deliberate attack. In a statement posted on social media platform X, Messias called for a thorough investigation: "I strongly condemn the attacks against the Supreme Court and the lower house. We must understand the motivations behind these acts and restore peace and safety as quickly as possible."

The blasts occurred just as the Supreme Court had concluded a plenary session. The justices were evacuated safely, according to a statement from the court, which described the evacuation as a precautionary measure.

The incident comes at a sensitive time for Brazil’s capital, as it braces for an upcoming visit of G 20 leaders scheduled to arrive to attend G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro next week. The blasts have raised concerns about security threats in the lead-up to the high-profile summit.

Brasília remains on high alert as authorities work to piece together the motives behind the explosions, with further updates expected as investigations proceed. This attack also stirs memories of last year’s violent protests in the same plaza, when supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed government buildings in an attempt to challenge his electoral defeat by current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.