Arrests Made in Brazil in Alleged Terror Plot Ahead of the Olympics

Impact

Ten people have been arrested by federal police in Parana, Brazil, for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack ahead of the 2016 summer Olympics, BBC reports. The games are due to start in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 5.

While those arrested are not formally affiliated with the Islamic State group, BBC notes they attempted to contact ISIS online.

"They were complete amateurs and ill-prepared. A few days ago they said they should start practicing martial arts, for example."

In a press conference Thursday in Brasilia, the capital, Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes addressed the foiled plot, saying that while 10 were arrested, authorities were still searching for two more implicated individuals, according to Associated Press. All those involved are reportedly Brazilian. The cabinet will convene an emergency meeting. 

Eraldo Peres/AP

The group of aspiring terrorists did not previously know each other and had used WhatsApp and other such applications to connect, Reuters reports. 

"Those involved participated in an online group denominated 'the defenders of Sharia' and were planning to acquire weapons to commit crimes in Brazil and even overseas," Moraes said during the press conference, according to Reuters

"They were complete amateurs and ill-prepared," Moraes added, AP reports. "A few days ago they said they should start practicing martial arts, for example."

Unease abound regarding the Olympics extends well beyond terror plots, with Zika and feces-infested waters where some of the contests are set to take place, to name a few. This is yet another addition in a plethora of concerns

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