A Brazilian resident detonated an explosive device at the entrance of the Supreme Court building on the Praça dos Três Poderes in the country’s capital. There were two explosions, about 20 seconds apart, occurring around 7:30 p.m. local time.
The first explosion happened in a car parked near the building. Shortly after, a man attempted to enter the Supreme Court but was unsuccessful, resulting in a second explosion, according to Federal District Deputy Governor Celina Leão. Leão reported that there were no other casualties.
The plaza where the explosion occurred houses institutions representing all three branches of Brazil’s government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Media outlets report that plenary sessions were underway in the Senate at the time, which were subsequently paused.
The deceased has been identified as Francisco Vanderlei Luiz. Metropoles reports that he was 59 years old and had run for city council in Rio do Sul, where he lived, as a Liberal Party candidate in 2020. Before approaching the Supreme Court, Luiz reportedly posted screenshots on social media of messages he had sent to himself on WhatsApp, detailing his plan for the explosions and giving the police a 72-hour warning.
