• 

Brazilian police investigated a suspected bomb threat in the country's capital Brasilia, just days prior to Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's inauguration ceremony, according to a local news report on Tuesday.

A suspicious backpack had been reportedly left near the gas reservoir of one of the city's hotels and a bomb squad was dispatched to the location, the report noted.

In the past several days, the police had received four different alerts regarding probable bomb threats.
The most critical incident occurred on December 24, when explosives were discovered near a truck in the vicinity of Brasilia International Airport. The culprit in this case was apprehended.

Brazil's military police increases security for Lula after bomb threat

Brazil's incoming Justice Minister, Flavio Dino, said on Monday that the country will review the procedures for strengthening the security measures for incoming da Silva’s inauguration scheduled on January 1st next year. 

All procedures in the inauguration, set for January 1, "will be reassessed, with a view to strengthen security," said Flavio Dino on his Twitter account on Sunday.

The announcement comes in light of the Brasilia International Airport bomb threat.on Saturday. 

"President Lula’s inauguration will take place in peace,” Dino said. “Democracy has won and will win."

According to the civil police, the explosive was found inside a fuel truck.

A suspect, alleged to be a supporter of President Jair Bolsonaro, confessed he intended to carry out an attack at the airport and was arrested. "The fight against terrorists and rioters will be intensified," Dino said.

On December 13, sources reported that officials ordered a major venue to close down as a preventive measure, revealing that security was being reinforced at the hotel where Lula was staying. 

Read more: Lula to Putin: Brazil is back on world stage