TV news station CNN Brasil reports that police in Brasília have arrested a man carrying a knife and explosives. He was reportedly trying to approach the area where President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will be sworn in later this afternoon.
The Federal Police in Brasília released a photograph of the objects they seized from the man, who had allegedly traveled from Rio de Janeiro to take part in today’s inauguration. He was carrying six fireworks, a lighter, and a knife. Police say the man has been arrested and transported to the local federal precinct.
Recent violent acts by supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro have raised concerns about security at the event. Future Justice Minister Flávio Dino said that the inauguration will have more than 8,000 security officers and metal detectors.
A bomb was found near the Brasília Airport last week. The device was triggered but did not explode. One man was arrested, and another is on the run. At Lula’s certification on December 12, supporters of the president torched a bus and tried to invade the headquarters of the Federal Police.
In response to threats, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled that citizens cannot carry firearms in Brasília until Monday. Though there were suggestions Lula would wear a bulletproof vest today during his inauguration, the incoming president has reportedly refused, and the traditional open-top car parade will go on as normal.
The National Force — comprising state-level public security agents who work for the federal government in specific situations — have been allowed to reinforce the security detail at today’s inauguration.
As of 2:10 pm Brasília time, the Three Powers Square in the capital had reached its maximum capacity, filled with roughly 30,000 Lula supporters, under the baking sun. The local fire brigade has sought to refresh the crowds in attendance by spraying them with water jets.
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