Jihadis call on 'lone wolf' terrorists to attack Israeli athletes at Rio Olympics
Brazil arrests group plotting 'acts of terrorism' before Olympics.
By REUTERS, JPOST.COM STAFFUpdated: JULY 21, 2016 20:49A Brazilian military police soldier patrols at the security fence outside the 2016 Rio Olympics Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 21, 2016(photo credit: REUTERS)
Al-Qaida-influenced terrorists have issued directives to "lone wolf" attackers to carry out attacks against the Israeli Olympic delegation at the upcoming Rio Olympics, Thursday.The jihadis reportedly published a list of athletes to be targeted on social media, including the US, French and British delegations in addition to the Israelis.“One small knife attack against Americans/Israelis in these places will have bigger media effect than any other attacks anywhere else in sha Allah,” the social media call read, according to The Foreign Desk.“Your chance to take part in the global Jihad is here! Your chance to be a martyr is here!” the jihadis said, citing the easy process of obtaining visas for travel to Brazil as well as the wide availability of guns in “crime-ridden slums.”The post specifically mentioned the Israelis: "From amongst the worst enemies, the most famous enemies for general Muslims is to attack Israelis. As general Muslims all agree to it and it causes more popularity for the Mujahideen amongst the Muslims.”The post also called to kidnap Israelis to serve as bargaining chips to free Muslim prisoners.Meanwhile, Brazil's federal police arrested 10 people on Thursday on suspicion of belonging to a group backing ISIS and preparing acts of terrorism during next month's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Justice Minister Alexandre Moraes said.News site Globonews reported that the members of the group were linked to ISIS. It was not possible to immediately confirm this.It was unclear where the operation was taking place or what the specifics of the operation were. Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes was due to hold a news conference on the operation.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.
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.Brazil's intelligence agency said on Tuesday it was investigating all threats to the Rio Olympics, which start on Aug. 5, after a presumed Brazilian Islamist group pledged allegiance to ISIS.The SITE Intelligence Group that monitors the internet reported the previously unknown group calling itself "Ansar al-Khilafah Brazil" said on the Telegram messaging app on Sunday that it followed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and had promoted ISIS propaganda in Arabic, English and Portuguese.Brazilian authorities stepped up security measures following the truck massacre in Nice, France last week, planning security cordons, additional roadblocks and the frisking of visitors in Rio de Janeiro for the Olympics.