Brasília police investigate plot to bomb Palácio do Planalto

An investigation by the Distrito Federal Civil Police has uncovered a group of men planning terrorist attacks against politicians and public buildings in Brasília via Telegram. The group, whose members had not met in person, discussed exploding the Palácio do Planalto and attacking a building intended for second-round election debates.

Authorities monitored two specific Telegram groups. One group contained over 600 members and used an image of Adolf Hitler as its profile picture. A more restricted group of 46 individuals focused on sharing specific instructions, including manuals for manufacturing explosives and Molotov cocktails, as well as calculating the costs and quantities of materials needed for attacks.

A report from Ciberlab, a specialized cybercrime laboratory, identified the content as highly dangerous, noting the dissemination of neo-Nazi ideology, misogyny, and incitement to violence. Investigators found maps and floor plans for several major institutions, including the National Congress, the Supreme Federal Court, and various ministries, to plan entry and exit routes.

Minister of Justice and Public Security Wellington César Lima e Silva stated that these were “serious attacks” rather than “innocent practices.” Police recently executed search and seizure warrants across eight cities in five states as part of the investigation into criminal association and the distribution of extremist material.