Federal police in Brazil are investigating after a pair of explosions in the heart of the country’s capital Brasília, steps away from the Federal Supreme Court (STF).

At least one person has been reported killed. The court itself was evacuated, as clouds of smoke and fire could be seen billowing through the air.

“At the end of [Supreme Court] Two loud explosions were heard in the session on Wednesday, and the ministers were evacuated from the building safely,” the court said. Press release.

In a separate statementfederal police indicated it had deployed a rapid intervention group and a bomb control squad to the area, known as Brasilia’s Three Powers Plaza.

He explained that those units were in charge of “conducting initial security measures and analyzing the site”.

The Federal Police added that a police inquiry would be launched to investigate the attack.

Local media reported that the blasts took place near the Supreme Court and along a street near the annexe building, where a car was parked. Some witnesses said they saw smoke coming from the boot of a car before the second explosion in front of the court.

No motive has yet been revealed and no suspect has been identified in Wednesday’s bombing incident.

But Selina Liu – the deputy governor of the Federal District, where the capital is located – said at least one explosion occurred when an unidentified man approached the Supreme Court’s door. He indicated that he was the same man who had been reported in the explosion.

“A citizen approached the Supreme Court, where he tried to enter the building but could not proceed. And then there was an explosion at the door.” Leo said The media at a press conference.

According to the court press, after the incident, the head of the Supreme Court, Luis Roberto Barroso, spoke by telephone with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Director General of the Federal Police and the leaders of the federal district government. release

Other government officials have expressed their concerns and fears to the press.

“I regret that someone has died,” Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco told CNN Brazil. “Obviously, we express all our feelings, our solidarity. We mourn without knowing any circumstances.

The Three Powers Plaza is the seat of Brazil’s federal government: it houses the presidential palace, the buildings of both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court.

The Chamber of Deputies, which was in session at the time of the blasts, announced it would suspend its activities until security was restored.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Brazil-based journalist Monica Ianaccio noted that the blasts came just days before a major international conference for the Group of 20 (G20) economic forum in the city of Rio de Janeiro later this month.

“This is happening not long before Brazil is about to host the G20 summit with 55 delegations from 40 different countries and 15 international organizations,” Ianaccio said. “People are worried about it because of the timing.”

He also pointed out that the architecture of the Three Powers Plaza makes it particularly vulnerable.

“In Brazil, the geography is that the Supreme Court, the National Congress and the presidential palace, they are all glass buildings, next to each other. Any explosion there could be very damaging,” Ianaccio explained.

Three Powers Plaza has also been a target of political violence in recent years. But January 8, 2023For example, thousands of protesters descended on the square, vandalized government buildings and clashed with law enforcement.

The riots were largely seen as an attack on democracy, as they happened just days after President Lula was inaugurated. He Narrated the incident. as a “coup” and accused his predecessor, far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, of spreading false claims of election meddling before his defeat.

Ever since the Supreme Court opened one, the Supreme Court itself has been subject to backlash. Investigation Bolsonaro and his allies for their role in the 2023 riots.

Last year, the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) – Brazil’s highest electoral authority – Bolsonaro was stopped. From holding public office until 2030 for abuse of power while President.

However, supporters of the far-right former president have vented their anger on figures such as Supreme Court Justice Alexander de Moraes, who was also the head of the Superior Electoral Court until June this year.

DeMaurice led an investigation into the 2023 attack on the Three Powers Plaza and demanded that Suspension of social media company X after failing to comply with court orders. It has been suspended since then. was raised.

But at a protest billed as a free speech rally this past September, Bolsonaro accused de Moraes of political bias and overstepping his authority.

“I hope that the Federal Senate will put the brakes on the dictator Alexandre de Moraes who has done more harm to Brazil than Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva himself.” He told the crowd