Sport security

ISIS Poses “Credible Threat” To Rio Olympics

ISIS poses a “credible threat” to the Rio Olympics, admitted Brazil’s Counterterrorism Director Luiz Alberto Sallaberry, but numerous measures are being taken to prevent an attack. With just three month until the Games commence, the country is on high alert and preparing for any eventuality.

Due to the country’s relatively low profile in the international arena and its non-aligned status, Brazil has historically faced little threat from extremists. However, due to the high publicity of the event, increasing extremist activity worldwide, and a rise in the number of ISIS-sympathising Brazilian nationals the threat level for the South American country has increased dramatically, Sallaberry said in a statement.

Brazil has undertaken multiple measures to prevent disaster, Sallaberry said, including increasing information sharing programmes with foreign intelligence agencies.