Brazilian politician threw bombs at police

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - A Brazilian politician is in custody after throwing hand grenades at police officers who came to his house in the state of Rio de Janeiro to arrest him. Roberto Jefferson, an ally of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, wounded two police officers before surrendering on Sunday.

A Supreme Court justice had previously ordered his pre-trial detention for insulting Supreme Court Justice Carmen Lucia. He was already under house arrest for making threats. Bolsonaro also reacted, saying that those who shot at the police should be arrested.

Two police officers were wounded by shrapnel from the bomb during the attack in Levy Gasparian, north of the capital Rio de Janeiro. They were taken to the hospital and later released, according to the BBC, FTV reports.

Jefferson, a 69-year-old former leader of the PTB political party, also fired several rifle shots, shattering the windshield of a police car.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the politician's detention on the grounds that he violated the terms of his house arrest. High political tension prevails in Brazil ahead of Sunday's second round of presidential elections between Bolsonaro and the leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula - who is still considered the frontrunner - did not receive the 50% of votes needed to avoid a runoff in the first round earlier this month.