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Brazil arrests two suspected of defending terrorism

Xinhua, August 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Brazil's Federal Police on Thursday arrested two people in Sao Paulo on suspicion of defending terrorism.

The temporary arrests, valid for 30 days, are part of Operation Hashtag which arrested 12 people last month accused of plotting attacks at the Rio Olympic Games.

Five others were detained pending charges and three were questioned before being released, the police said, adding all suspects are Brazilian nationals who used Arabic codenames to communicate with one another.

According to the police, the men are suspected of having links to the extremist group the Islamic State.

"The federal government's initiative, through integrated efforts of the defense, security and intelligence organs, aims at ensuring the safety of the Olympic Games and citizens' well-being," the police said.

Defending terrorist organizations is punishable with prison terms, according to Brazil's new anti-terrorism law. Endi