SAO PAULO: Brazil arrested 10 people on Thursday on suspicion of belonging to a group backing Islamic State (IS) and preparing acts of terrorism during next month’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Thursday's arrests are the first based on the Anti-terrorism Law sanctioned by President Dilma Rousseff in March this year, just two months before she was suspended.
Meanwhile, the presidency said that interim President Michel Temer had called an emergency cabinet meeting. The justice ministry said in a statement that the operation spanned nine states in Brazil, Reuters reported.
A court in the southern state of Parana said there were indications that the group was planning to use weapons and guerilla tactics to achieve its aim.
The arrests were made in the southern states of Sao Paulo and Parana. Justice Minister Moraes however termed the terrorists to be disorganized and added that the group did not have any specific targets for their planned attack.
The Justice Minister further added that the group relied on WhatsApp and Telegram for communications. All those detained are Brazilian and include one minor.
Brazil’s interim government's military aide said concerns about terrorism had “reached a higher level” after the attacks in Nice, France.
Source: Geo News
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