Witness Claims Braga Netto Was Playing Volleyball During Brasília Attacks

Brasília, Brazil – In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the January 8, 2023, attacks on government buildings in Brasília, Colonel Waldo Manuel de Oliveira Aires testified on May 23, 2025, before the Supreme Federal Court (STF). Aires, a witness for the defense of General Walter Braga Netto, provided a surprising account of the general's whereabouts on the day of the attacks. According to Aires, he and Braga Netto were playing volleyball on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro at the time the events unfolded in the capital. "We were completely unaware of what was happening in Brasília," Aires stated in his testimony. This account directly contradicts the narrative presented by the prosecution, raising questions about Braga Netto's alleged involvement in the planning or execution of the attacks. The testimony has ignited renewed debate and interest in the ongoing investigation, with further hearings scheduled for the coming days. The case continues to be a focus of intense public scrutiny in Brazil.