Brazilians smash IS Olympic terror plot
TEN people were arrested yesterday over plotting Islamic State inspired terror attacks during the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Two more were being hunted last night. All the arrested group are Brazilian and one is a minor.
Police said the ten had pledged allegiance to IS and discussed using guerrilla tactics during the Games, which begin on August 5.
Brazil’s justice minister Alexandre de Moraes said however ‘they were complete amateurs and ill-prepared’, adding ‘a few days ago they said they should start practising martial arts, for example’.
But Mr Moraes said even disorganised groups had to be taken seriously. The arrests were made in ten states, including Sao Paulo and Parana in the south of Brazil.
It is not known if the suspects knew each other beyond online contact. Mr Moraes said they had all been ‘baptised’ as IS supporters online and several had tried to obtain funds from the terrorists. Officials seized computers, mobile phones and other equipment but no weapons.
One suspect allegedly tried to buy an AK47 assault rifle from Paraguay, the most direct action taken for any attack, but their email was intercepted by police. In Brazil only the military can own such powerful guns, although firearms are common especially in slums run by drug gangs.
The top military aide of Brazil’s interim government said recently concerns over terrorism had ‘reached a higher level’ after 84 people were murdered by a truck driver in Nice.
Security has emerged as the top concern ahead of the summer Olympics, including violence spilling over from Rio’s many slums. Officials claim they are prepared and 85,000 soldiers and police will be guarding the venues.
Meanwhile Russia came closer to being kicked out of the Games yesterday after its track and field athletes lost an appeal against a ban over state-sponsored doping.
The country’s Olympic committee plus 68 of its athletes were hoping to overturn suspensions ordered by the International Association of Athletics Federations world governing body. Now a number of Russian athletes will see if they are allowed to compete as ‘neutrals’ in Rio.
Last night Olympic 100m and 200m champion Usain Bolt said it was important to send a strong message to people who drug athletes.
He said: ‘It’s sad but rules are rules. Doping violations in track and field is getting really bad. If you cheat or go against the rules… this will scare a lot of people.’
The three-member panel from the Court of Arbitration for Sport is likely to give its reasons before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meets again on Sunday. The IOC may go further and ban all Russian teams from competing in every sport being contested in Rio.
The IAAF suspended Russia from track and field events in November after an independent World AntiDoping Agency report highlighted widespread state-backed doping of athletes there.
Russian authorities are thought to be looking at further legal challenges if they are hit with more bans.
‘Tried to buy assault rifle’