Brazil loves to throw a good party, and some would-be terrorists won’t spoil the fun by banding together or acting alone.
Alexandre de Moraes, Brazil’s interim justice minister, announced Thursday that police arrested 10 people who expressed allegiance to the Islamic State on social media and discussed carrying out attacks during the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, according to The Associated Press. Moraes said authorities are searching for two more suspected ISIS sympathizers, as the Summer Olympics approach.
Police arrested the suspects in 10 different states, and it’s unclear whether they knew each other.
Moraes said police seized computers and cell phones but couldn’t find weapons or evidence of specific plans or targets. In fact, Moraes downplayed the extent of the threat these suspects posed.
“They were complete amateurs and ill-prepared,” Moraes said, per the AP. “A few days ago they said they should start practicing martial arts, for example.”
Nevertheless, security remains a central issue for authorities and organizers of the Olympics.
France earlier this month said it foiled a terror plot against its Olympic delegation. Brazil will deploy more than 85,000 security personnel to keep the games safe.
Thumbnail photo via Michael Madrid/USA TODAY Sports Images
