Explosions nearby Supreme Court of Brazil and Congress in the capital Brasília killed one person and prompted judges and staff to evacuate.

Two explosions shook the capital on Wednesday evening just a few days before the leaders of the G20 countries meet In Rio de Janeirofollowed by a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The first explosion took place in a parking lot near the court, while another explosion was heard outside the court about 20 seconds later. A man was found lying on the ground outside the court.

Preliminary information suggests the man, who has not yet been identified, set off the explosives after trying to enter the court, Federal District Deputy Governor Celina Leao said.

Ms Leao hoped the explosions were a “lone wolf” attack but said she could not be sure. “We are treating this as a suicide because there was only one victim. But investigations will show whether this was indeed the case.”

Police deployed a bomb squad equipped with an explosive ordnance disposal robot to sweep and investigate the explosion. Police have not yet established the motive for the attack.

Judges and court staff had just finished a plenary session when the explosions occurred around 7:30 p.m. They left the building safely, authorities said.

“At the end of (Supreme Court) on Wednesday, two loud bangs were heard and the ministers were removed from the building safely,” the court said.

Shortly thereafter, all access to the area housing the court and Congress was blocked.

José Chrispiniano, presidential spokesperson Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvasaid the 79-year-old leader was not in the nearby presidential palace at the time of the explosion.

Attorney General Jorge Messias said the federal police would “investigate with rigor and urgency the explosions that occurred in the perimeter of the Square of the Three Powers.”

The explosions took place around the Place des Trois Pouvoirs, the capital’s iconic square linking the three branches of the federal government, which was the scene of the riots of January 8 last year when supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the buildings.

“I strongly condemn the attacks on the Federal Supreme Court and the House of Representatives. I express my solidarity with the ministers and parliamentarians,” the attorney general said on X on Wednesday.

“We must understand the motivations behind these attacks, as well as restore peace and security as quickly as possible. »