São Paulo, Brazil – In a sweeping operation on Tuesday, Brazil’s Federal Police detained four military officers, including an army general and a federal police agent.
The five men are accused of conspiring to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes in the aftermath of the 2022 presidential election, which saw Lula defeat incumbent Jair Bolsonaro.
According to investigators, the plot was scheduled for December 15, 2022, and intended to stage a coup d’état that would maintain Bolsonaro’s presidency with the support of military generals. Federal authorities have yet to confirm any links between this scheme and the anti-democratic riots that erupted in Brasília on January 8, 2023.
The suspects taken into custody are:
- General Mário Fernandes of the Army
- Lieutenant Colonel Rodrigo Bezerra de Azevedo
- Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Martins de Oliveira
- Lieutenant Colonel Hélio Ferreira Lima
- Federal Police Agent Wladimir Matos Soares
The group is being investigated on charges of violent acts against the democratic state, conspiracy to overthrow the government, and organized crime. Documents revealed that the plot’s planning intensified after the October 2022 elections.
Authorities have not ruled out the existence of additional collaborators, citing the complexity and scale of the conspiracy.
During the operation, investigators discovered a three-page document on a device seized from General Mário Fernandes. The document contained detailed instructions for carrying out the assassinations, outlined scenarios involving firearms at short, medium, and long ranges, and suggested the potential use of explosives.
To counter possible resistance from law enforcement or military units, the conspirators specified an arsenal of weapons, including 9mm and .40 caliber pistols, 5.56mm and 7.62mm rifles, a MAG-MINIMI M249 machine gun, a 40mm grenade launcher, and an AT4 rocket launcher. Federal Police experts noted that such firepower could penetrate walls and destroy armored vehicles.
Investigators further uncovered that the group considered poisoning as an alternative method to assassinate Lula during a public event. This method was reportedly also intended for the killings of Vice President Alckmin and Justice Moraes.
At present, former President Jair Bolsonaro is not implicated in this investigation, though General Walter Braga Netto—Bolsonaro’s former defense minister and vice-presidential running mate—is under scrutiny for his potential involvement. Authorities allege the plot was discussed at his residence.
The investigation, spanning nearly two years, underscores the perceived threat to Brazil’s democratic order. Brazil’s Attorney General Paulo Gonet justified the arrests, citing sufficient evidence and the need of detaining the suspects to ensure public safety and the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
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