Brazil: Presidential candidate stabbed during campaign event Sep. 6

Event

Far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro was stabbed during a campaign event in Juiz de Fora (Minas Gerais state) on Thursday, September 6. Bolsonaro reportedly sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Police have confirmed that the attacker was subsequently arrested; no information has been released concerning a possible motive for the stabbing. Heightened security should be anticipated in Juiz de Fora in the coming hours.

Context

Bolsonaro is running for president on the Social Liberal Party (PSL) ticket and polls currently have him in second place behind former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula). Although he has a strong following, Bolsonaro is also a controversial figure, having come under fire for inflammatory statements regarding women, Afro-Brazilians, and the LGBT community. Lula holds a comfortable lead in the polls, but he is currently serving a prison sentence and has been barred from running in the October 7 election; his Workers' Party (PT) continues to appeal the electoral court's decision. 

Advice

Individuals in Brazil are advised to keep abreast of the situation and the sociopolitical climate, as well as to avoid all associated demonstrations or political events due to the potential for violence.