The United States has suspended consular services in Brazil and Australia has closed its embassy in Brasília, citing security concerns two days before the country’s presidential election.
The US embassy said services would be halted from Friday and advised American citizens seeking assistance not to visit its embassy, consulates or other diplomatic facilities. It did not disclose the nature of the threat or say whether it was directly linked to Sunday’s vote.
The US State Department said it was working with Brazilian officials to address the concerns, adding that American diplomatic missions routinely issue alerts about local threats and developments.
Australia’s ambassador to Brazil, Sophie Davies, said on social media that her embassy would also close on Friday because of the US alert. She advised Australians to avoid US diplomatic facilities.
Brazilian police investigate suspected threat
Brazil’s federal police carried out preventive search and seizure operations in São Paulo and the Federal District, the administrative region surrounding Brasília, as part of an investigation into suspected plans targeting US diplomatic facilities.
Police said the operation followed co-operation with foreign intelligence agencies. However, investigators said they had found no evidence supporting the initially reported threat and had identified no suspects linked to criminal organisations.
Communications equipment was seized and the investigation remains under way, according to the police.
The diplomatic closures come as Brazil prepares to elect its president on Sunday. The contest is between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is seeking re-election, and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup. If neither candidate secures more than 50 per cent of the vote, a run-off will take place on 25 October.
Edinho Silva, president of Lula’s Workers’ Party, described the closures as “unprecedented” and said: “It makes no sense at all. It’s one of Trump’s ways of trying to influence Brazilian public opinion.”
Lula’s allies have cited US tariffs and Washington’s efforts to send officials to Brazil to discuss electoral integrity as evidence of foreign interference. Brazilian intelligence officials also briefed French and German delegations in Brasília this month about what they described as US and Russian interference in the election.
US President Donald Trump has publicly praised Flavio Bolsonaro, whom he regards as a close ally, without formally endorsing him. Mr Trump has said he is “watching that election very closely”.
