Robson Candido, head of Brasilia’s civilian police, said a 54-year-old man from the northeastern state of Para was arrested and confessed to planting an explosive device in a tanker truck near Brasilia’s airport.
Police also found assault rifles and other explosive devices in an apartment the man rented in Brasilia. The detainee and possible co-conspirators tried to activate the explosive device, but it did not detonate. He said it’s still unclear how many other people were involved. “We’ve never had bombs here in Brazil,” Candido said. According to media reports, the explosive device was detonated in a controlled manner by a special police unit.
Bolsonaro supporters camped in front of army bases
According to Candido, the arrested man came to Brasilia to “take part in the protests in front of the army headquarters, like many other supporters of right-wing politician Bolsonaro, and he is part of the movement that supports the current president”. Bolsonaro supporters have been camping outside army bases in Brazil for weeks, calling on the military to overturn left-wing President-elect Lula’s victory.
With a view to the already heated mood in the country after the elections, the news about the bomb is now causing the next level of escalation. According to Flavio Dino, who was nominated by Lula as the new Minister of Justice, the bomb find in Brasilia proves that the camps of Bolsonaro supporters “have become breeding grounds for terrorists”.
Dino said arrangements for Lula’s inauguration would be “reassessed with a view to tightening security measures.” Dino also announced via Twitter that he would propose the creation of “Tasks to Counter Terrorism and Irresponsible Weapons.” “These political militias are incompatible with the rule of law,” Dino added, referring to Bolsonaro supporters who were prepared to use violence.
defeat still not admitted
Bolsonaro, who has yet to admit defeat, has made unsubstantiated claims about the credibility of Brazil’s electoral system, and many of his supporters believe him. The head of Brazil’s electoral authority last month dismissed a complaint from Bolsonaro’s allies wanting to contest the presidential election.
The camp in Brasilia, outside the army headquarters, has grown into one of the most extreme in the country. On December 12, the day Lula’s victory was confirmed, some camp residents attacked the federal police headquarters in Brasilia.
Police and military pardoned
Shortly before the end of his term, Bolsonaro pardoned convicted police officers and soldiers. Members of the security forces and military who have been convicted of negligent offenses and have already served at least a sixth of their sentences can be released from prison, according to a decree published in the Official Gazette on Friday.
Ex-military Bolsonaro has repeatedly said that police officers who kill a suspect on duty should not be investigated. Rather, they deserved a medal.
Brazilian security forces are notorious for robust operations. When the heavily armed special police units move into the slums to fight drug gangs, bystanders are often caught between the fronts. Last year, security forces in Brazil killed 6,133 people.
