Brasilia

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A justice at the Brazilian Supreme Court said on Thursday (Nov 14) that he believed that the explosions outside the court were the consequence of frequent far-right attacks and hate speech targeting the country’s institutions.

Addressing an event in Brasilia, Justice Alexandre de Moraes said, "It grew under the guise of a criminal use of freedom of speech. To offend, threaten, coerce."

He added that the explosions appeared to be the most serious attack on the institution since then. 

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Also read | Brazilian police treats Supreme Court bomb blast as 'terror attack', says was 'planned over a long period'

“The country’s pacification is only possible with the accountability of all criminals. There is no possibility of pacification with amnesty for criminals,” the justice further said.

The explosions outside the Supreme Court

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On Wednesday, a man who failed in an attempt to break into the Supreme Court killed himself in explosions outside the building, forcing justices and staff to evacuate. 

In a statement, the top court said that two strong blasts were heard at about 7.30 pm local time after the day's session finished and all the justices and staff left the building safely. 

Security camera footage provided by the Supreme Court shows the suspect approaching a statue outside the building, a report by the news agency Associated Press said.

As a guard neared, the man threw an explosive and retreated a few steps, then threw a second device and an explosion followed. Finally, the suspect ignites a third device near to himself, causing his death.

Also watch | Suicide bomber wanted to blow up Brazilian SC: Judge

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Local media identified the man as 59-year-old Francisco Wanderley Luiz. He was a member of Brazil’s Liberal Party, the same as former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro has railed against the Supreme Court in the past and specifically focused his ire on de Moraes.

In a post on social media, he condemned the explosions by saying, "It is high time for Brazil to once again cultivate an environment suitable for different ideas to confront each other peacefully and for the strength of arguments to be worth more than the argument of force."

Investigation launched 

Addressing a press conference, Federal Police Director Andrei Passos Rodrigues said on Thursday that cops were investigating the explosions as terrorism and a violent attack on the democratic rule of law.

Rodrigues said that the man attempted to enter the Supreme Court and that it appeared he acted alone, though the police official indicated he also was viewing the attack in the broader context of extremism.

(With inputs from agencies)