Man arrested on terrorism charges ahead of Olympics

Brazilian officials announced a new arrest on terrorism charges Thursday, saying that a man living in Rio de Janeiro state had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group and had been in Syria.

The man allegedly had links to terrorist organizations at least as far back as 2014 when Brazil hosted the football World Cup, said Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes.

Despite the arrest, which followed 12 others last week, de Moraes said “there is still a very minimal chance of a terrorist attack.”

Meanwhile, Rio’s top security official vowed to review security for the Olympic torch after rioting protesters blocked the relay ceremony and apparently extinguished the flame. The violent clashes late Wednesday in Angra dos Reis, a coastal resort south of Rio, cast a shadow over final preparations for South America’s first Olympics, which start August 5.

In another worry for Olympic organizers, Rio metro employees threatened Thursday to go on strike on the eve of the Games if they do not get a nearly 10 per cent salary increase.