Brazilians Arrested, Accused Of Plotting Terrorist Attack On Rio Olympics

Brazil Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes called the suspects “complete amateurs” but said one of them tried to purchase an AK-47 from a local store.

Judicial authorities in the state of Parana claimed that intercepted data and telephone calls revealed that a terrorist cell was planning to use “weapons and guerrilla tactics” to achieve its aims.

The Brazilian Federal Police this morning announced the arrest of 10 people suspected of plotting acts of terrorism in Rio de Janeiro.

Adminstrative director Elen Moreira says: “Even though there has been this threat for many years and no attack has taken place, I think now it could happen”.

‘There was an order between them to start training in martial arts and to (obtain) ammunition and weapons with which they could carry out an act, ‘ justice minister Alexandre Moraes said.

An additional hundred people are said to be monitored by the Brazilian Federal Police in an attempt to reinforce their security before the eyes of the world descend on the country for the Olympics in August.

The ten suspects were under surveillance since April. Several were allegedly trying to secure financing from IS.

Investigators said none of the suspects was of Arab descent, but released no details on their religion. The recent attacks in the USA and across Europe have sparked Brazilian security officials to go back to the drawing board and reconfigure security measures.

They were not recruited by Islamic State and were not in contact with the terror group, Moraes said, although the Brazil group’s leader expressed a desire to travel to meet Islamic State members. Mr.de Moraes has said that foreign intelligence agencies are assisting with efforts for the games, and said today that they were involved in gathering the information that led to these arrests.

President Temer notes that terror attacks at the Rio Olympic games are “possible” but not “probable” as Brazil’s intelligence agency is on top of the situation.

Authorities have said they will be prepared and that some 85,000 police and soldiers will be patrolling during the competitions.