Brazil arrests 10 in alleged Olympics terror plot

Brazilian authorities have arrested a group of people under suspicion of supporting the so-called Islamic State and preparing acts of terrorism during next month’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

However, other preparations discussed appeared to illustrate what officials said was the group’s amateur nature, with only two weeks to go until the Games begin.

A court in the state of Parana, where Curitiba is based, said that there were indications that the group was planning to use weapons and guerilla tactics to achieve its aim. About 80,000 police and military personnel will be monitoring the security during the Games.

Islamist terrorists have issued directives to “lone wolves” to carry out attacks against the Israeli delegation and others at the Rio Olympics this summer, according to a news website.

“The likelihood of terrorist acts is minimal, but with any possibility, we will act firmly”, Minister Moraes said on Thursday.

However “they were complete amateurs and ill-prepared” to actually launch an attack, Moraes said. There was no specific target of their alleged attack and it was not clear how they were going to implement their plans.

Group members had attempted to contact a weapons supplier in neighbouring Paraguay to get AK 47 assault rifles, but there was no evidence of any being bought.

“All threats related to the Rio 2016 Games are being meticulously investigated, particularly those related to terrorism”, the Brazilian intelligence agency ABIN said in a statement.

To further guarantee security for athletes and spectators at the Olympics, a joint security center is in the works, where representatives from over a hundred countries will supposedly gather to share intelligence and monitor the event.

Moraes refused to acknowledge to reporters how authorities were able to track the suspects’ messages, given that WhatsApp has installed end-to-end encryption in its messaging service.

The detainees, all Brazilians, had at least one contact with the militant organization for initiation purposes and one suspect planned to leave the country to make personal contact with a Daesh member but was unable to do so due to a lack of funds.

On Thursday, the government held a press conference where it announced that, in order to control and supervise transport, over 21,000 soldiers from the Brazilian army will patrol highways, train stations, the Rio port and the city’s airports.

Brazil is also reportedly planning a special security arrangement at the opening ceremony for French President Francois Hollande.