Brazil’s Ministry of Justice announced today the arrest of 10 alleged ISIS recruits who the ministry says pledged allegiance to the Syrian-based terrorist group and were discussing possible attacks during the Rio Olympics.
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While referring to the group as “absolutely amateur – with no preparation”, De Moraes said the group was not an organized cell as they had essentially planned to start learning how to shoot and train in martial arts.
Moraes said they had all been “baptized” as Islamic State sympathizers online and none had actually traveled to Syria or Iraq, the group’s stronghold, or received any training.
The group did not have direct contact with ISIL, though some of its members had made “pro forma” declarations of allegiance to the armed group, the minister said.
The Brazilian suspects did take part in a virtual “baptism” into the terror group, an online ceremony in which members repeat phrases and swear loyalty that Moraes characterised as a “standard” procedure that takes place without contact with the terror group.
Brazil is expected to receive more than 500,000 visitors all over the world to watch the games. Level of risk of being a target is very high, even though Brazil has no history of conflicts with any militant group in the world.
Brazil’s intelligence agency said it was reviewing all threats against the Rio Games after a jihadi message was detected that called for its followers to target the Olympics with “lone wolf” attacks.
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.
An estimated 85,000 soldiers and police will also be on patrol during events across the country. The arrests were made in Brazil’s southern city of Parana.
Earlier this week, interim president Michel Temer refuted information that a Brazilian had plotted a terror attack against the French delegation during the Games. “There is a minimal probability of a terrorist act during the Rio Olympics”, the Minister told media.
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Officials said the people arrested had communicated with one another via mobile messaging services.
