Right-wing PSL (Social Liberal Party) candidate Jair Bolsonaro has been stabbed in the middle of a campaign rally in Juiz de Fora, in the state of Minas Gerais.
Bolsonaro was crowd surfing when he was stabbed in the stomach by an individual at the rally. Despite wearing a bulletproof vest, he appeared to be in pain and was carried away lying horizontally by members of his team holding his stomach.
A source close to the candidate assured that the injury was minor, reported O Globo. His son, Flavio Bolsonaro, recently also tweeted that his father was not too badly harmed.
Brazilian Presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro nicknamed ‘Brazilian Trump’ stabbed during event in #Brazil #Bolsonaro (Not graphic or bloody!) pic.twitter.com/hYIVFvDcGt
— IanyB (@Ianyb) September 6, 2018
“Jair Bolsonaro just suffered an attack in Juiz de Fora, as he was stabbed with a knife in his abdominal region. Thank God, the wound was only superficial and he is doing ok. I ask that you all pray for us!” his son, a Rio de Janeiro senator, tweeted.
Federal Police officials have reported that Bolsonaro has been taken to the local Santa Casa de Misericórdia hospital.
Having been previously criticised for some of his controversial statements and policies, public opinion on Bolsonaro is somewhat divided. He has, however, recently been voted the most popular candidate in the running for this year’s presidential elections.
