In brief
Several military personnel and a federal agent were arrested as part of a foiled assassination plot against Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, aimed at keeping Jair Bolsonaro in power, raising tensions in Brazil.
Brazil is reeling from a recent revelation that an assassination plot against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was uncovered by police. Authorities arrested multiple members of an elite army unit, including a former top aide to ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, who lost a close election to Lula in 2022. The arrests involved four military personnel and a federal police agent, as they were accused of meticulously planning the assassination of Lula and his vice-presidential pick, Geraldo Alckmin, on December 15, 2022. The conspirators reportedly had advanced military expertise, demonstrating detailed knowledge of the required resources for such a lethal mission. The police also revealed that the group intended to target a Supreme Court justice, although specific names were not disclosed. Bolsonaro's lawyer vehemently denied any involvement from his client, affirming that Bolsonaro was not privy to any such plans. Authorities did not state whether the plot had been thwarted or if the assassination was still being pursued.
