Brazilian police have taken four soldiers into custody for their suspected involvement in a plot to assassinate President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in December 2022.
These soldiers were part of the G20 Guards, an elite security unit. This development comes after a tumultuous election period in Brazil, which saw Lula da Silva narrowly defeat incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro.
A source from the Brazilian federal police told AFP that the soldiers were arrested in Rio de Janeiro, where they had been deployed for security at the ongoing G20 summit.
It was also reported that a police officer was also taken into custody.
The suspects, described as mostly soldiers with special forces training, were reportedly involved in a conspiracy to prevent Lula from assuming office following his victory in the 2022 elections.
The federal police said the arrests were part of a broader operation aimed at dismantling a “criminal organization” that had planned a coup.
The plot, according to the police statement, involved plans to assassinate both Lula and his vice president-elect, as well as a Supreme Court justice.
Le Monde reports that the alleged conspirators, who are said to have had “advanced military operational” knowledge, reportedly codenamed their plot “Green and Yellow Dagger,” a reference to the colors of Brazil’s flag.
They are facing potential charges of attempting to overthrow the government, conspiracy to stage a coup, and membership in a criminal organization.
Lula’s election victory over the far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in October 2022 had sparked tensions, culminating in the January 8, 2023, insurrection, when thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília in a bid to prevent Lula from taking office.
Investigations into the January attack, as well as other alleged plots against Lula’s presidency, are ongoing.
Brazil arrests G20 guards over alleged 2022 Lula assassination plot.
