Brazilian authorities on Tuesday arrested four soldiers and a police officer suspected of involvement in a plot to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva prior to his inauguration in January 2023. The arrests occurred in Rio de Janeiro during the G20 summit, where the soldiers were part of the security operation, according to a federal police source.
The alleged coup attempt, codenamed “Green and Yellow Dagger,” reportedly aimed to prevent Lula from assuming office after his electoral victory over far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in October 2022. The plot allegedly included plans to kill Lula, his vice president, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, known for his crackdown on far-right extremism.
Details of the Arrests
The Brazilian federal police stated that the suspects, described as “mostly soldiers with special forces training,” were detained as part of an operation targeting a criminal organization accused of planning a violent overthrow of the government.
The arrests coincided with the second day of the G20 summit in Rio, where world leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are meeting under tight security.
A ‘Crisis Cabinet’ Plot
Authorities revealed that the alleged conspirators planned to establish a “crisis cabinet” to take control after carrying out their assassinations. The alleged coup attempt was to occur on December 15, 2022, just weeks before Lula’s inauguration.
The federal police have indicated that the suspects possess advanced military training and face charges of coup-plotting, membership in a criminal organization, and violent attempts to overthrow the government.
Background and Context
This development comes on the heels of a failed bomb attack on Brazil’s Supreme Court last week, carried out by a suspected far-right extremist. The incident has been linked to broader plots to destabilize Lula’s administration, which officially began in January 2023.
The plot to assassinate Justice de Moraes, a key figure in Brazil’s judiciary, has drawn particular attention. De Moraes has faced backlash from right-wing groups for his investigations into far-right extremism and his temporary shutdown of the social network X (formerly Twitter) over disinformation concerns.
Ongoing Investigations
The arrests are part of a broader crackdown on attempts to undermine Lula’s presidency, including the January 8, 2023, insurrection in Brasilia, where Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in a scene reminiscent of the 2021 U.S. Capitol riots.
Brazilian authorities continue to investigate multiple plots, including the recent Supreme Court bombing and other attempts to disrupt the country’s democratic transition.
