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8 Charged With Promoting, Recruiting Terrorism Before Rio Olympic

Police are accusing those arrested of pledging allegiance to ISIS, discussing attacks

Brazilian federal prosecutors have charged eight people with allegedly recruiting for and promoting terrorist organizations before the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

They are among several people arrested two weeks before the event in August. Police accused them of pledging allegiance to the self-declared Islamic State on social media and of discussing using weapons and guerrilla tactics to potentially attack during the Olympics. Police said one had tried to buy an AK-47 assault rifle.

At the time of the arrests, Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes said the 10 suspects initially detained were ill-prepared amateurs.

The Associated Press was unable to locate attorneys for the men and it is not clear if they have entered pleas.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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