Brazil’s Federal Police on Saturday arrested General Walter Braga Neto, defence minister in the government of former president Jair Bolsonaro and his running mate in the 2022 presidential election, in connection with an investigation into an alleged coup plot, a source close to the operation said.

The authorities also executed two search and seizure warrants. Braga Neto served as army chief of staff from 2020 to 2021 and defence minister from 2021 to 2022.