Alex O'Brien
News

10 people arrested over suspected terror plot at Rio Olympics

Brazilian police have reportedly arrested 10 people suspected of planning a terror attack during this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Two more suspects are still on the run. All 10 suspects are of Brazilian nationality, but all have pledged their allegiance to the so-called Islamic State terror group on social media.

Despite discussing the use of weapons and guerrilla warfare on the unsuspecting public, Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes claims the group were “complete amateurs and ill-prepared”. “A few days ago they said they should start practicing martial arts, for example.”

None of the accused have actually travelled to Syria or Iraq, where ISIL is based, but several had been attempting to secure funds for their planned attacks.

The group was caught after one of the suspects emailed a store in Paraguay, trying to purchase an AK-47 assault rifle. The communication was intercepted by police, who seized computers and phones but no weapons.

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Tags:
Olympics, Brazil, terrorism, Rio de Janeiro, Rio