Brazil police probe plot to carry out election attacks

SAO PAULO:

Brazilian police said Tuesday they were investigating eight suspects accused of plotting attacks in the capital during October elections, in which President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is seeking a fourth term in office.

Intercepted communications showed the suspects, aged between 19 and 31 and living across five states, had made "repeated references to Brasilia as the destination of a planned mobilization during the 2026 election period," said a police statement.

The statement said the group had exchanged messages about travelling to Brasilia, storming buildings, choosing targets, recruiting people from different states, and conducting tactical training.

They also allegedly shared building plans and 3D models of government buildings in the capital, as well as "manuals for the manufacture of explosive devices".

The investigation was triggered by information from a cybercrimes intelligence unit.

The operation included measures to seize electronic devices and police are investigating how organized the group was and how far any plans had progressed.

The crimes under investigation are potential criminal conspiracy, incitement to crime, and glorification of crime, but the case is not currently being treated as terrorism.

In the October 4 presidential election, Lula will face off against right-wing candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro.

The 71-year-old former leader is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for plotting a coup after losing a re-election bid in 2022.

Hundreds of Jair Bolsonaro's supporters were convicted over the January 2023 storming of government buildings and the Supreme Court in Brasilia, a week after Lula took office.