– ReutersBrazilian marines take part in a security exercise ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, July 21, 2016.
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Brazil’s Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes said the loosely organised group went from making simple comments about the self-styled Islamic State, to actually planning terrorist acts.
Brazilian officials said that since April they’ve been monitoring a group of about 100 Brazilians who are thought be supporters of the Islamic State.
A presidential aide said on Thursday that Brazilian police and intelligence services had cooperated with French, German, British, Israeli and USA intelligence agencies in the arrests. “Whether the costs of the games, and the massive increasing security costs, are really worth the outcome”, said Wood.
Muggah said it is too early to tell whether today’s arrests constitute the squashing of a legitimate terror threat or represent jumpy authorities acting overzealously in the wake of recent terror attacks in Paris, Nice and elsewhere.
On Wednesday, SITE said alleged Islamist militants are giving advice for lone actors to carry out attacks during the Games, including the use of toy drones. On Sunday, another channel vowed allegiance to IS, although its authenticity has not been vetted for authenticity, she said.
About 130 officers took part in the operation in which 10 were arrested and two more temporarily detained, the statement said.
She said her husband did not resist arrest and that police seized a computer and an e-book after searching their home. However, they were not members of the so-called Islamic State. Several were allegedly trying to secure financing from IS.
Investigators said none of the suspects was of Arab descent.
All of the suspects are Brazilian and one was a minor, The Guardian reported.
Prior to this arrest, officials say they had no reason to be concerned, but now they are taking every precautionary measure.
One of the suspects had allegedly contacted an underground weapons site in Paraguay to buy an AK-47 assault rifle, while others are accused of trying to seek funding from IS. The email communication was intercepted by police.
Brazilians are allowed to possess small firearms but must have a license and training to do so.
The arrests came just days after Moraes acknowledged the possibility of terror attacks during the games, but he downplayed the threat as minimal.
Brazilian and USA officials have raised concern over the disappearance of former Guantanamo Bay detainee Jihad Diyab, after he had resettled in neighboring Uruguay, saying he could now be in Brazil.
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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.
