Farmer ends up arrested for saying he wanted to shoot Lula

A farmer was arrested by the Federal Police after saying that he would “shoot in the belly” of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). The arrest took place on Thursday (3) in the city of Santarém (PA), a region where the PT member is scheduled for next week.

Identified as Arilson Strapasson, the man would have made the comment last Wednesday (2) while shopping at a beverage distributor. He was denounced by a witness and located by the agents.

Police have not publicly presented any evidence that the rancher had any ability or intention to actually shoot Lula. For now, the complaint against him seems to be based only on a mistaken and inappropriate comment that he would have made publicly in a liquor store. But the suspect’s past actions appear to have been factored in.

To the police, Strapasson would have said that he would have participated in the acts of January 8th. On the occasion, thousands of people invaded the headquarters of the Three Powers, in Brasília. The Federal Police said that he would have invaded the building of the Chamber of Deputies.

The farmer would also have donated money to help a camp of demonstrators in front of the 8th Construction Engineering Battalion in Santarém last year.

The suspect may answer for the crimes of threat and incitement or preparation of an attack against a person for political reasons.