Brazilian authorities have made a significant breakthrough in uncovering an alleged plot to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The Federal Police have arrested five individuals, including a former adviser to ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, in connection with the conspiracy.
The coup plot, which was reportedly devised in late 2022 before Lula assumed office, involved plans to not only target the then-president-elect but also capture or eliminate Lula's Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
Retired general Mário Fernandes, a key figure in the alleged plot and a former high-ranking official in Bolsonaro's administration, is among the detained suspects. The Federal Police revealed that the plan also enlisted the involvement of other military personnel with specialized training in special forces.
The investigation unveiled detailed strategies and resources that the plotters intended to utilize, including advanced military operational techniques. The plotters envisioned establishing an 'Institutional Crisis Management Office' within the Brazilian government to facilitate their control.
The court order highlighted that the suspects considered various methods to carry out the political assassinations, such as the use of poison or explosive devices. The document also mentioned the possibility of exploiting President Lula's health vulnerabilities to induce an organic collapse through poisoning or chemicals.
In addition to the arrests, the suspects have been prohibited from leaving the country or contacting other individuals suspected of involvement in the plot. Former President Bolsonaro, who is under investigation in connection with the alleged coup plot, has denied any wrongdoing.
The investigation, which is ongoing, is expected to conclude later this month. Bolsonaro's son, Flavio Bolsonaro, a senator in the Brazilian Congress, has defended the suspects, asserting that the act of planning an assassination is not a crime unless it is carried out beyond the perpetrators' control.
Following Lula's narrow victory over Bolsonaro in the 2022 presidential election, tensions escalated as Bolsonaro's supporters contested the results and engaged in violent protests in Brasilia, culminating in the storming of government buildings in early 2023.
