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One person was found dead near Brazil’s Supreme Court in Brasilia after two explosions prompted the evacuation of the building, officials said late Wednesday.

“We can confirm that there is a body before the Supreme Court,” a federal police spokesman told AFP.

The court said in a statement that two loud explosions erupted after Wednesday’s hearing and that the judges were safely evacuated.

The court is located in the Plaza de los Tres Poderes, which also houses the presidential mansion and Congress.

The presidential palace was closed while a large contingent of police patrolled the square.

Federal police referred to the explosions as “attacks” and said they were investigating.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was not in the presidential palace at the time of the blast, a spokesman said.

The seats of power in Brasilia were hit by an insurrection on January 8, 2023, a week after Lula defeated incumbent right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro at the polls.

Thousands of Bolsonaro supporters angry at his defeat stormed government buildings, causing major damage.

Wednesday’s blasts came as Brazil prepares to host a Group of 20 summit next week in Rio de Janeiro. On the sidelines, Lula is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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