Police arrest ex-Bolsonaro aide, four others in alleged plot to kill Brazil’s Lula in coup

The arrests were the first time in the investigation that federal police mentioned a plot to kill Lula and Geraldo Alckmin, his vice-presidential choice, and stage a coup to stop him returning to power.

BRASILIA — Brazilian police on Tuesday arrested five people, including a member of former President Jair Bolsonaro’s government, suspected of involvement in an alleged plan to kill then president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his vice president in 2022 days before they took office, police said.

The arrests were the first time in the investigation that federal police have mentioned a plot to kill Lula and Geraldo Alckmin, his choice as vice president, and stage a coup to stop him returning to power.

Most of those investigated are military personnel with Special Forces training, the police said in a statement.

Two sources close to the case told Reuters that one of those arrested was retired Brigadier General Mario Fernandes, who previously worked as former rightist president Bolsonaro’s executive secretary.

He was in possession of the plan to kill Lula, one of the sources said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/arrests-plot-kill-lula-coup-attempt-rcna180773

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