Ansar al-Khilafah Brazil (Portuguese: Ansar al-Khilafah Brasil, Arabic: أنصار الخلافة البرازيل, romanized: Anṣār al-khilāfah al-Barāzīl, lit. 'Supporters of the Caliphate of Brazil') was a loosely knit and disorganized terror cell and organization that had connections to the Islamic State.[1]
| Ansar al-Khilafah Brazil | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Foundation | 2016 |
| Dates of operation | 2016–2018 |
| Dissolved | 2018 |
| Allegiance | Islamic State |
| Ideology | |
| Status | Defunct |
| Opponents |
|
History
editThe group gained prominence in 2016 after pledging their allegiance to the Islamic State group and threatening the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[2][3] Through Telegram, the group would disseminate Islamic State propaganda in Portuguese, this included the 14 issues of the Islamic State online magazine, Dabiq.[4]
In the same month of the threats, 10 members of the group would be arrested in conspiracy of the threat.[5]
In September 2016, 8 more members would be arrested for their support of the Islamic State and planning on an attack against Brazil, with one of the members buying an AKM from Paraguay, 4 more would be under investigation.[6]
In 2018, the group attempted to re-establish itself as a sleeper cell, but all 11 members were arrested after WhatsApp messages between them were leaked to the Brazilian police.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Brazilian Jihadist group first in South America to pledge allegiance to Isis". The Independent. 2016-07-18. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ "Brazil probes Olympics threats after group backs Islamic State". Reuters. 2016-07-20. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Boykoff, Pamela (2016-07-21). "Rio Olympics: Brazil weighs jihadi threats". CNN. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Gunaratna, Rohan (2016). "Global Terrorism Mid-Year Review 2016". Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses. 8 (7): 3–8. ISSN 2382-6444.
- ^ Bowater, Donna (2016-07-21). "Brazil police arrest 10 in alleged Isil Rio Olympics terror plot". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ "Brazil Files Terrorism Charges Against 8 for IS Support". Voice of America. 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ "Brazil charges 11 people with attempting to establish Isis cell". The Guardian. 2018-05-17. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-21.