Brazilian police have arrested four soldiers in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate then-President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as part of a 2022 coup attempt. The arrests took place on Tuesday, November 19, in Rio, where the soldiers were participating in the security operation for the G20 summit. Along with the soldiers, a police officer was also detained. According to a federal police source, the individuals arrested were mostly soldiers with special forces training. However, no mention was made of their involvement in the G20 summit security.
The arrests came on the second day of the G20 gathering, which is being attended by global leaders, including US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Brazilian authorities described the operation as a move to dismantle a criminal organization accused of planning to prevent Lula’s government from assuming power following his victory in the 2022 elections. The plot, which was set to unfold on December 15, 2022, allegedly involved the assassination of Lula and his vice-presidential candidate, as well as a Supreme Court justice. The group had also planned to establish a “crisis cabinet” after the murders.
The suspected plotters were reportedly well-trained in military operations and had code-named their conspiracy “Green and Yellow Dagger,” a reference to the colors of the Brazilian flag. They now face charges related to coup-plotting, attempting to violently overthrow the government, and being part of a criminal organization.
This arrest comes just days after a failed bombing attempt on Brazil’s Supreme Court by a far-right extremist, who died during the attack. The suspect in that incident is also believed to have been involved in the January 2023 insurrection, where supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed government buildings in Brasília in an effort to prevent Lula from taking office. Several investigations are ongoing regarding that riot and other alleged attempts to undermine the new administration.
