Brazilian federal police yesterday arrested 10 people suspected of plotting a terrorist attack at the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes said.
The suspects, all of whom were Brazilians, were members of an online group calling itself the Defenders of Sharia.
Speaking at a press conference in the capital Brasilia, Moraes called them an "amateur" and "disorganised" terror cell.
Authorities began investigating the group in April as part of a social media monitoring effort by the anti-terrorism division of Brazil's federal police.
Moraes said in recent days the group had progressed from making "simple comments" about terrorist acts to preparing for an actual attack of their own.
Their preparations included attempting to acquire an AK-47 assault rifle in Paraguay, Moraes said.
He added that the suspects had celebrated attacks claimed by Islamic State and declared Brazil a potential target despite the country not being part of the coalition battling the terrorist group in Iraq and Syria.
Members of the group plotted using communication apps WhatsApp and Telegram and rarely met in person, Moraes said.
They were not recruited by Islamic State and were not in contact with the terror group, Moraes said, although the Brazil group's leader expressed a desire to travel to meet Islamic State members.
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.
The alleged plotters were detained on the basis of a new anti-terrorism law, which came into effect this year.
Two suspects remained at large, Moraes said, but were being "tracked".
Approximately 85,000 security personnel will be on hand for the Aug 5-21 Games. As many as 700,000 visitors are expected to attend, as well as 12,000 athletes and scores of heads of states and high government officials.
The arrests raised the level of concern regarding possible terror attacks on the Olympics, being held for the first time in South America.
But Moraes reiterated that authorities are more concerned about street crime during the games than terrorism.
- dpa
