Four Brazilian Soldiers Arrested Over Alleged Coup Plot to Kill President Lula In 2022
Brazilian police arrested four soldiers on Tuesday in connection with a plot to assassinate then-President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as part of a coup attempt in December 2022. The soldiers, who were stationed in Rio de Janeiro for the G20 summit security operation, were detained as part of a federal investigation into a criminal organization allegedly planning to prevent Lula’s inauguration.
The suspects, mostly trained special forces soldiers, were accused of attempting to overthrow the government and assassinate key political figures, including Lula and a Supreme Court justice. The plot, named “Green and Yellow Dagger,” was reportedly coordinated to coincide with Lula’s return to office. The arrested men, who had advanced military training, were also planning to establish a “crisis cabinet” to take control after the assassination attempts. Brazilian media reports suggest that the Supreme Court justice targeted was Alexandre de Moraes, known for his investigations into far-right activities.
The arrests come amid heightened security during the G20 summit in Rio, where global leaders, including US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, are attending. This operation is part of ongoing investigations into multiple alleged plots to disrupt Lula’s presidency, including the January 2023 storming of government buildings by Bolsonaro supporters. The suspects face charges of coup plotting, violently attempting to overthrow the government, and being members of a criminal organization.
