An alleged plot to attack Jews in Brazil has been foiled following the arrest of two men suspected of being linked to the Islamist group Hezbollah.
The arrests were made in São Paulo on Wednesday during what police said was an operation to “disrupt the preparation of terrorist attacks”.
Brazilian authorities added other raids were carried out across the country.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office said its spy agency Mossad worked with Brazilian law enforcement.
Brazil is home to Latin America’s second largest Jewish community.
In a statement, Brazil’s Federal Police said 11 search and seizure raids were executed in São Paulo, the capital Brasília and the state of Minas Gerais.
Recruiters face charges of involvement in a terrorist organisation and participating in preparations for terrorist acts – and could face maximum prison sentences of 15 and a half years if convicted.
Hezbollah is an Iranian-backed Shia Muslim organisation which exerts significant political influence in Lebanon and controls the country’s most powerful armed force.
Like Hamas in the Gaza Strip, it is considered a terrorist organisation by the UK, the US, Israel, Gulf Arab countries and other nations.
Source: bbc.com
