One Dead After Attempted Attack on Brazil’s Supreme Court
A man who attempted to attack Brazil’s Supreme Court in Brasília on Wednesday evening is believed to have been killed by his explosives.
The individual, identified as Francisco Wanderley Luiz, a former candidate for a council seat from ex-President Jair Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party (PL), was found dead outside the court after two explosions were heard in the area.
Meanwhile, local officials have strongly condemned the attack, with Brazil’s solicitor general, Jorge Messias, vowing a full investigation into the incident as he described it as a deliberate attack on key government institutions, calling for a swift restoration of peace and safety.
Witnesses reported seeing him throwing what appeared to be explosives before the detonation. No other casualties were reported, and the area was immediately secured by authorities. A bomb disposal robot was deployed to search the man’s body, and police discovered a timer linked to other explosives, suggesting there could be more devices nearby.
The motives behind the attack remain unclear, though there has been speculation that the assailant acted alone, similar to other “lone wolf” incidents seen globally. Police continue to investigate, while authorities emphasized the need to exercise caution due to the possibility of more explosives in the area.
Francisco Wanderley Luiz was reportedly from Rio do Sul, in southern Santa Catarina state, and had run unsuccessfully for a local council position in 2020, receiving only a small number of votes. Bolsonaro’s advisor, Fabio Wajngarten, commented on the incident, noting that extreme actions like this can be found across all political spectrums. Meanwhile, police officials confirmed that the explosion occurred after Luiz tried to approach the Supreme Court’s entrance and was prevented from entering. One eyewitness described seeing him throw explosives toward the building before the detonation, leading to his death.
The explosions came just a week before a scheduled visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Brasília, adding a layer of international significance to the event. Last year, the Praça dos Três Poderes, where the Supreme Court is located, was the site of violent protests by Bolsonaro supporters who stormed government buildings following Lula’s inauguration. Following the explosions, the Supreme Court was evacuated as a precautionary measure, and lawmakers were advised to stay away from the area as investigations continue.
