In a separate incident on Friday, a “homemade bomb” exploded at Instituto Sao Jose high school in Belford Roxo, a city outside Rio de Janeiro. The municipal government reported that ten teenagers, aged 13 to 15, sustained minor injuries. The Belford Roxo city hall stated that the students are expected to be discharged within hours and that classes have been suspended to ensure safety. Local media reported that the device, described as a pipe filled with nails, nuts, and bolts, was brought to the school by two students. The fire department noted the device reportedly detonated in the school courtyard after being handled by a student.
Following the Brasilia explosion, federal police deployed a rapid intervention group and a bomb control squad to the Three Powers Plaza, the seat of Brazil’s federal government. The police stated a formal inquiry would be opened to investigate the attack. No motive has been released, and no suspect has been identified beyond the deceased individual described by Vice-governor Leao. The Chamber of Deputies suspended its activities until security could be restored. Supreme Court head Luis Roberto Barroso held a telephone call with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the head of federal police, and Federal District government leaders in the aftermath.
The timing of the Brasilia explosion has raised concerns due to the upcoming Group of 20 economic forum in Rio de Janeiro later this month. Journalists noted that the architecture of the Three Powers Plaza, where the Supreme Court, National Congress, and presidential palace are adjacent glass structures, makes the area particularly vulnerable to explosive damage. The Supreme Court has previously been a target of political backlash following its investigations into the January 2023 riots, leading to tensions between the judiciary and supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
In Belford Roxo, military police and a bomb squad cordoned off the area of the high school explosion to conduct their investigation. City hall officials emphasized that the injured students are in stable condition with minor trauma. No formal charges or arrests have been reported in connection with the school incident as of the latest updates.
Authorities have not announced a specific timeline for the completion of the federal police inquiry regarding the Supreme Court attack. The Belford Roxo school remains closed pending a full safety assessment. Both incidents remain under active investigation by respective law enforcement agencies.
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