Brazil’s Federal Police Director, Andrei Rodrigues, announced Thursday that two explosions near the Supreme Court and the Chamber of Deputies in Brasília are being investigated as a possible terrorist attack. Authorities believe the assault was carried out by a suicide bomber who died in the blast. 

Rodrigues stated there is “clear evidence” the incident was premeditated and connected to “active extremist groups.”

According to investigators, the attacker tried to enter the Supreme Court carrying explosives but failed. Moments later, he detonated a device outside the building. A second blast occurred in a nearby parked car containing homemade explosives and bricks. 

The attacker’s body was left mutilated in the Praça dos Três Poderes, the symbolic heart of Brazil’s democracy. Security forces quickly sealed off the area, which also houses Congress and the Planalto Palace, the president’s official residence. 

Rodrigues emphasized that the case is being treated as terrorism, adding that new threats against the Supreme Court have recently been received. “We need a strong and coordinated response from state institutions to stop these attempts to undermine Brazil’s democracy,” he said. 

Bolsonaro against the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has long been a target for far-right movements. On January 8, 2023, the Court, along with Congress and the Planalto Palace, was stormed by thousands of Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters in what the judiciary labeled an attempted coup against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. 

Attorney General Jorge Messias assured that the investigation would be carried out “thoroughly and swiftly.” Analysts, however, warn that this incident highlights the lingering presence of radical groups connected to Bolsonaro’s political base. 

Although the attacker’s identity and direct affiliations remain unconfirmed, the echoes of previous violent episodes tied to Bolsonaro supporters place Brazil once again under international scrutiny. With political polarization at a peak, the attack raises concerns over the resilience of Brazil’s democratic institutions and the ability of its leaders to contain extremist threats.