People enjoy the day at Copacabana beach as a warship patrols the coast. Photo: AFP
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https://scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/1996384/another-man-arrested-brazil-terrorism-charges-ahead-olympics Other Sport
Another man arrested in Brazil on terrorism charges ahead of Olympics
Marines stand guard at Flamengo Park in Rio de Janeiro, enhancing security ahead of the Games. Photo: AFP
Brazilian officials announced a new arrest on terrorism charges on Thursday, saying 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 organisations at least as far back as 2014 when Brazil hosted the soccer 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 on 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 on August 5.
In another worry for Olympic organisers, Rio metro employees threatened on Thursday to go on strike on the eve of the Games if they do not get a nearly 10 percent salary increase, raising the possibility of transport chaos for some 500,000 tourists expected to attend.
Officials said the terrorism suspect, a Brazilian citizen, was arrested on Wednesday at his home in Nova Iguacu, in Rio de Janeiro state.
The justice department said the indictment against Chaer Kalaun, a Brazilian of Lebanese descent, was sealed, but had been filed under anti-terrorism laws.
Separately, the federal police said a 34-year-old man was being investigated after he “promoted a terrorist organisation on the internet.” He also had a prior detention for possession of weapons.
De Moraes said the suspect “was involved, had a link with terrorists back as far as the World Cup”.
“We carried on investigating him and he left Brazil. He was in Syria and returned to Brazil and swore loyalty to the Islamic State” group. 
A woman exercises as a marine stands guard at Flamengo Park in Rio. Photo: AFP
The man’s lawyer, Edson Ferreira, said the allegations lacked substance.
“There’s nothing more than suspicions that he put posts on Facebook,” the lawyer said.
“He did not pledge allegiance, he was not recruiting, or bringing people or collaborating or encouraging any projects of the Islamic State,” he said.
Ferreira said his client is a Muslim and lived in Lebanon when he was an adolescent.
The arrest came a week after the 12 other Brazilian men were arrested in an unrelated incident for allegedly trying to form a terrorism cell. Officials downplayed the seriousness of the group, calling them “amateur” and “disorganised”.
Rio de Janeiro state security secretary Jose Mariano Beltrame said policing during the relay of the torch – which will have visited more than 300 Brazilian cities by the time of the opening ceremony in Rio’s Maracana stadium – needs improving. 
Jessica Cruz Santos, a former volleyball player, carries the Olympic torch in the streets of Sao Luiz do Paraitinga, Brazil. The torch became a target for demonstrators this week. Photo: Reuters
“There has never been a problem,” he said. “Yesterday there was one. This needs to be re-evaluated and we will be paying more attention to this question.”
“Extinguishing the torch is a crime,” he warned.
The crowd, protesting a lack of public transport and the late payment of salaries by the nearly bankrupt Rio state, attacked the procession in Angra dos Reis before being driven off by police using tear gas and rubber bullets.
In footage of the clashes shared online and on Globo television, someone can be heard shouting triumphantly: “The torch has been put out!” as the torch bearer, carrying an unlit torch, is hustled into the safety of a bus.
The Rio organising committee said in a statement that the torch relay “had to be temporarily interrupted.”