Everyone in the Supreme Court was hurriedly evacuated from the building early Wednesday evening (local time; in the early hours of this morning Greek time), after two loud explosions were heard and a dead man was found in the square in front of the building, a very short distance from parliament and the Planalto (the seat of the presidency) in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, authorities said.

According to a press release from the Supreme Court, “two loud explosions were heard” and the judges, as well as all the staff, were hurriedly removed from the building “as a precaution”.

Brazilian media reported that a man was found dead in front of the building, information that was later officially confirmed by the federal police and the fire department.

The first explosion took place in a car park next to the Supreme Court building.

Federal police have deployed a tactical unit and pyrotechnicians, who are sweeping the area for other explosive devices.

A prosecution source spoke of an “attack”.

Police said they would begin an investigation.

The area around the so-called Square of the Three Powers was cordoned off.

The lifeless body of a man was found lying on the ground in a square in front of the Supreme Court. It is unclear at this stage if he had anything to do with the explosions. Earlier, a report by the UOL news website, which did not specify its sources, said a man was seen in front of the Supreme Court building with explosives.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had left the presidency minutes before the explosions, about 20 seconds apart.