Brazil arrests 10 over IS plot to attack Olympics
People security at the
to enter the main press centre as soldiers provide in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. Reuters pic BRASILIA: Brazil arrested 10 people yesterday on suspicion of belonging to a group supporting Islamic State (IS) and preparing acts of terrorism during next month’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Justice Minister Alexandre Moraes said.
The loosely organised group were all Brazilian citizens and in contact via Internet messaging groups, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, but did not know each other personally. The group did not have direct contact with IS though some of its members had made “pro forma” declarations of allegiance to the militant group, Moraes said.
“Those involved participated in an online group denominated ‘the defenders of syariah’ and were planning to acquire weapons to commit crimes in Brazil and even overseas,” Moraes told a news conference.
“It was an amateur cell, with no preparation at all, a disorganised cell,” Moraes said, adding that authorities decided to intervene when the group started to plan actions.
He said members of the group had visited a weapons site in neighbouring Paraguay that sold AK-47 assault rifles, but there was no evidence they acquired any weapons. Two people will be brought in for questioning, in addition to the 10 detained.
Brazil’s intelligence agency said on Tuesday it was investigating all threats to the Rio Olympics, which start on Aug 5, after a presumed local group pledged allegiance to IS. Reuters