Jihadists Encouraged On Social Media To Kill Israeli Athletes At Rio Olympics

Israeli athletes set to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil are among the competitors targeted by groups linked with al-Qaeda, the UK's Daily Star reported on Thursday.

Groups associated with the terrorist organization posted a list on social media advising attacks on British, American, French and Israeli targets at the upcoming event in Rio de Janeiro. 

The post said, "Your chance to take part in the global Jihad is here! Your chance to be a martyr is here!"

The post also encouraged jihadists to employ a range of techniques, such as kidnapping, explosives, poison and drones. "One small knife attack in these places will have bigger media effect than any other attacks," the post said, according to the Daily Star.

The al-Qaeda-linked groups claimed getting into Brazil should be easy, and once inside, will not be difficult to cause death and destruction, after having access to guns and explosives in Rio's "crime-ridden slums."

Eleven Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. They will be honored in Rio at a ceremony led by Brazilian and Israeli officials on August 14. 

At the ceremony, which will be held at the Rio City Hall, the widows of weightlifter Yosseph Romano, who was kidnapped, castrated and murdered by the terrorists, and Andre Spitzer, who was a fencing coach, will light 11 candles.

Brazilian police arrested 10 people last week suspected of planning terrorist acts during Rio Olympics.

The group was inspired by ISIS and mostly organized online.

The games begin August 5 and more than 500,000 foreign visitors are expected.

Originally published at Algemeiner.com - reposted with permission.