Explosives and timer found on suspect’s body after attack on Brazil’s top court

A man killed himself while detonating explosives after trying to enter Brazil’s Supreme Court in Brasilia on Wednesday, an attempted attack that appeared to be politically motivated and came as the country’s top tribunal finds itself under pressure over disinformation and extremism cases.

The suspected attacker, Francisco Wanderley Luiz, was affiliated with former President Jair Bolsonaro’s right-wing Liberal Party, having unsuccessfully run in local elections in 2020, CNN affiliate CNN Brasil reported on Thursday, quoting Federal Police.

Police found messages on Luiz’s social media criticizing and threatening state authorities, CNN Brasil reported.

The Liberal Party condemned the attack in a statement posted on X, calling it “a serious act” and saying that attacks against public institutions go against the party’s principles.

Luiz’s ex-wife told police that she believed his goal was to kill Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, according to CNN Brasil. Brazilian authorities are still investigating the motive.

Moraes warned that the attack was symptomatic of a broader effort to instigate hate speech against government institutions, a sentiment he said has been growing under “a false blanket of a criminal use of freedom of speech – offend, threaten, push.”

“In no place in the world is this freedom of speech: This is a crime,” Moraes added

Moraes and other Supreme Court Justices have become frequent targets of criticism as the court broadened its authority over cases involving political extremism, disinformation, and threats to the democratic order.

Moraes himself rose to international prominence in August when he ordered a nationwide ban on the social media platform X for refusing to suspend accounts that contained hate speech or misinformation.

The order escalated a monthslong feud with Elon Musk, who called him “an evil dictator,” and outraged Bolsonaro supporters. In October, the court cleared the platform to resume service after complying with the account bans.

While some view this expansion of power as essential to protecting Brazil’s democracy, critics have decried it as judicial overreach aimed at curtailing conservative voices.

Over the past few years, there has been growing discontentment with the court as it has broadened its authority over cases involving political extremism, disinformation, and threats to democratic order.

In August, the Supreme Court ordered the suspension of social media site X nationwide after Musk refused to name a legal representative in the country.

Police investigation

Luiz had been to Brasilia multiple times since the beginning of the year and there are signs he had been planning the bombing for some time, Federal Police Director-General Andrei Rodrigues said in a press conference Thursday morning.

Rodrigues said the attempted attack is connected to several other investigations being carried out by Federal Police, despite earlier officials characterizing Luiz as a “lone wolf”.

“These extremist groups are active, and we need to act swiftly,” Rodrigues said, adding that the explosives found at the scene were homemade but with a high damage capacity.

The first car bomb exploded near the Congress building at 7:30 p.m. (5.30 p.m. ET), Federal District Vice-Governor Celina Le?o told reporters late Wednesday.

The suspect then tried to enter the Supreme Court building but was unable to, and a second explosion happened right outside the front doors. There were no other victims of the attack, she said.

The court and Congress, both still in session, were evacuated. Staff and legislators were shepherded to safety as police carried out an hours-long sweep of the Three Powers Plaza.

The damaged car found at the scene was registered to Luiz. The Federal Police’s anti-terrorism unit is investigating the explosions as a suicide attack.

Security concerns

The plaza was the site of mass protests and attacks on January 8, 2023, when supporters of Bolsonaro stormed the Supreme Court, Congress, and presidential offices. Inquiries into how security in all three buildings failed to contain protesters led to the temporary suspension of the Governor of the Federal District and the dismissal of 87 members of the security forces.

The Supreme Court’s handling of the trials of the January 8 rioters and the investigation into Bolsonaro’s potential involvement in the incitement of the violence sparked more criticism of the tribunal by some.

Attorney General Jorge Messias vowed to have police investigations move swiftly. “We need to understand the motivation behind these attacks, as well as to restore peace and security as quickly as possible,” Messias posted on X.

The incident comes five days before Brazil gets ready to host global leaders for the Group of 20 (G20) major economies in Rio de Janeiro. Chinese leader Xi Jinping is scheduled to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for a state visit in Brasilia on November 20, and US President Joe Biden is set to visit the Amazon rainforest on Sunday before attending the G20.

This story has been updated.

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