Brazilian Presidential Candidate Bolsonaro Stabbed at Campaign Event

Bolsonaro was recovering at a hospital and his wound was “only superficial,” according to his son.

Brazilian far-right and poll-leading presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro was stabbed in the abdomen while campaigning on Thursday for next month’s election, his son Flavio said in a Twitter message sent from his verified account, Telesur reported.

Bolsonaro was recovering in a hospital from a wound that was “only superficial,” his son said.

Globo TV showed images of Bolsonaro atop the shoulders of supporters in the midst of a crowd in Juiz de Fora in the state of Minas Gerais when he was stabbed.

 Bolsonaro screamed in pain after being stabbed in his abdomen, then fell backward into the arms of those around him. It took a few moments for the crowd to realize what occurred, but they quickly rushed the candidate out of the street.

Police in Juiz da Fora told Reuters they had arrested one man who they say carried out the stabbing but did not yet know his identity.

Bolsonaro, who has spent nearly three decades in Congress, is a law-and-order candidate who routinely says that Brazilian police should kill suspected drug traffickers and other criminals at will.

Fernando Haddad, who will likely be the Worker’s Party presidential candidate, said the stabbing was a “shame” and a “horror.” Leftist rival Ciro Gomes took to Twitter to express outrage at the political violence.