Brazil Arrests 10 ISIS Backers Accused of Olympics Terror Plot

The arrests come a week after a truck massacre in France and amid growing fears of an attack in the Olympics.

Brazilian marines stand in formation during a training drill simulating a terrorist attack on a ferryboat, ahead of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo: AP)

Brazil arrested 10 people on Thursday suspected of belonging to a poorly organized group supporting ISIS and discussing acts of terrorism during next month’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The group, described as “absolutely amateur” by Justice Minister Alexandre Moraes, were all Brazilian citizens and in contact via messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram. They did not know each other personally, the minister said.

The arrests came a week after a truck massacre in France and amid growing fears of possible attack on Olympic targets when the first Games to be held in South America kick off on 5 August.

Federal police are monitoring about 100 people for possible links to terrorist groups, mostly in the porous tri-border region with Paraguay and Argentina, a presidential aide said on Thursday, requesting anonymity to speak freely.

Brazilian police and intelligence services have been cooperating with French, German, British, Israeli and US intelligence agencies regarding the arrests, the aide said.

Although Brazil has no history of conflict with known militant groups, Moraes said the Games had made the Latin American country a more likely target, particularly because of participation by countries fighting the ISIS.

Today was the first operation against a supposed terrorist cell in Brazil,” he said. “Brazil was not part of the coalition against IS, but because of the upcoming Olympics and because it will receive many foreigners, Brazil becomes part of the target.

Alexandre Moraes, Justice Minister, Brazil

He further said that the group had “no preparation at all” and was a “disorganized cell,” adding that authorities decided to intervene when the group started planning actions including martial-arts training and the purchase of firearms.

The local Olympic organizing committee, Rio 2016, referred requests for comment to the federal government.

Brazil has planned an extensive security detail during the Olympics. It will deploy about 85,000 soldiers, police and other security personnel, more than twice as many in place for the London Olympics in 2012.

Interim President Michel Temer called an emergency cabinet meeting following the arrests, the first under Brazil’s tough new anti-terrorism law approved this year.