Ansar al-Khilafah Brazil
{{Short description|Islamic State connected terrorist cell}}
{{Infobox militant organization
| name = Ansar al-Khilafah Brazil
| logo = Flag of the Islamic State.svg
| foundation = 2016
| active = 2016–2018
| dissolved = 2018
| allegiance = Islamic State
| ideology = * Jihadism
| status = Defunct
| opponents = * {{flag|United States}}
- {{flag|France}}
- {{flag|Portugal}}
- {{flag|Brazil}}
- {{flag|Argentina}}
- {{flag|Bolivia}}
- {{flag|Colombia}}
- {{flag|Guyana}}
- {{flag|Paraguay}}
- {{flag|Peru}}
- {{flag|Suriname}}
- {{flag|Uruguay}}
- {{flag|Venezuela}}
- Hezbollah in Latin America
}}
Ansar al-Khilafah Brazil ({{Langx|pt|Ansar al-Khilafah Brasil}}, {{Langx|ar|أنصار الخلافة البرازيل|translit=Anṣār al-khilāfah al-Barāzīl|lit=Supporters of the Caliphate of Brazil}}) was a disorganized Islamic State terror cell and organization that was active in Brazil from 2016 to 2018.{{Cite web |date=2016-07-18 |title=Brazilian Jihadist group first in South America to pledge allegiance to Isis |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/isis-brazil-rio-olympics-2016-jihadist-group-ansar-alkhilafah-terrorism-a7143116.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=The Independent |language=en}}
History
The 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.{{Cite news |date=2016-07-20 |title=Brazil probes Olympics threats after group backs Islamic State |language=en-US |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.comarticle/idUSKCN0ZZ2V5-OCASP/ |access-date=2023-11-21}}{{Cite web |last=Boykoff |first=Pamela |date=2016-07-21 |title=Rio Olympics: Brazil weighs jihadi threats |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/07/20/world/rio-olympics-brazil-security/index.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=CNN |language=en}} Through Telegram, the group would disseminate Islamic State propaganda in Portuguese, this included the 14 issues of the Islamic State online magazine, Dabiq.{{Cite journal |last=Gunaratna |first=Rohan |date=2016 |title=Global Terrorism Mid-Year Review 2016 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26351431 |journal=Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses |volume=8 |issue=7 |pages=3–8 |jstor=26351431 |issn=2382-6444}}
It is believed to be the first pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State coming from South America.
In the same month of the threats, 10 members of the group would be arrested in conspiracy of the threat.{{Cite news |last=Bowater |first=Donna |date=2016-07-21 |title=Brazil police arrest 10 in alleged Isil Rio Olympics terror plot |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/21/brazil-police-order-arrest-of-12-men-pleading-islamic-state-alle/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |issn=0307-1235}}
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.{{Cite web |date=2016-09-16 |title=Brazil Files Terrorism Charges Against 8 for IS Support |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/brazil-terrorism-charges-islamic-state-olympics/3512937.html |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}
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.{{Cite news |last= |date=2018-05-17 |title=Brazil charges 11 people with attempting to establish Isis cell |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/17/brazil-islamic-state-cell-charged-jihadists-syria |access-date=2023-11-21 |issn=0261-3077}}
References
{{Reflist}}{{Islamic State}}{{Terrorism in Latin America}}
Category:Anti-Israeli sentiment in South America
Category:Factions of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Category:Defunct organisations based in Brazil