Terrorism in Brazil

Terrorism in Brazil has occurred since at least the 1940s.

Terror organizations

=Shindo Renmei=

The Shindo Renmei were a Japanese-Brazilian terror organization whose attacks were focused on resistance to the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II; attacks were perpetrated against other Japanese-Brazilians.LESSER, Jeffrey. "Negotiating National Identity: Immigrants, Minorities and the Struggle for Ethnicity in Brazil". Durham: Duke University Press, 1999. Portuguese edition: Negociando a Identidade Nacional: Imigrantes, Minorias e a Luta pela Etnicidade no Brasil (São Paulo: Editora UNESP, 2001.

=Islamic terror groups=

According to the Brazilian Federal Police, at least seven Islamic terror groups operate in Brazil:

These groups operate inside the national territory, and most are also known to operate on the border of Paraguay and Argentina with Brazil.

Under the Brazilian military government

During the Brazilian military government from 1964 to 1985, terrorism was a term frequently used by the state. All forms of opposition to the military regime were considered forms of terrorism; opposition members were deemed "terrorists."[http://thebrazilbusiness.com/article/terrorism-in-brazil "Terrorism in Brazil."] The Brazil Business. Accessed January 30, 2015.

Some groups engaged in urban guerrilla attacks against the regime; in a 1969 panflet, ALN members described themselves as 'Guerrillas, terrorists, and robbers, not men who depend on votes from other revolutionaries or whoeve to fulfill their duty to make the revolution.{{Cite web |title=Sobre a Organização dos Revoluci |url=https://www.marxists.org/portugues/tematica/1969/08/organizacao-revolucionarios.htm |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=www.marxists.org}}

During this period groups like the Brazilian Anti-Communist Alliance (taking inspiration in the name and actions of the Argentine Anticommunist Alliance{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=puawuAAACAAJ|title=. A política nos quartéis: Revoltas e protestos de oficiais na ditadura|work=Editorial Zahar|isbn=978-85-378-0779-8 |accessdate=2020-01-23 |last1=Chirio |first1=Maud |date=2012 |publisher=Zahar }}.) claimed a ring of bombing attacks against Brazilian Press Association,{{cite web|url=http://www.metro1.com.br/dia-na-historia-atentados-a-bomba-da-alianca-anticomunista-brasileira-em-1976-6-35701,noticia.html|title=Dia na História: atentados a bomba da Aliança Anticomunista Brasileira em 1976|work=Metro 1|accessdate=2020-01-24|archive-date=21 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221015712/http://www.metro1.com.br/dia-na-historia-atentados-a-bomba-da-alianca-anticomunista-brasileira-em-1976-6-35701,noticia.html}} the Order of Attorneys of Brazil,{{cite web|url=https://memoriaglobo.globo.com/jornalismo/coberturas/atentados-contra-a-oab-e-a-abi/|title=Atentados Contra a OAB e a ABI|work=Memoria Globo (en portugues)|accessdate=2020-01-24}} the Brazilian Center for Analysis and Planning, Editora Civilização Brasileira{{cite web|url=https://definicionesyconceptos.com/alianza-anticomunista-brasilena-historia-de-brasil/|title=Alianza Anticomunista Brasileña – Historia de Brasil|work=Definiciones y conceptos|accessdate=2021-10-24}} and the residence of journalist Roberto Marinho.

An incident of right-wing terrorism known as the Riocentro attack occurred in 1981, perpetrated by a sector of the military dissatisfied with the democratic opening of the regime.

Recent history

On 21 July 2016, two weeks before the scheduled start of the 2016 Summer Olympics, the Brazilian Federal Police busted an Islamic jihadist terrorist ring plotting to wreak havoc in a manner similar to the 1972 Munich massacre, but they had rather poor preparation compared to their objectives. 10 people suspected to be allied with ISIS were arrested, and two more were on the run.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/did-isis-reach-brazil-11-people-charged-trying-set-jihadi-cell-934221|title=Did ISIS Reach Brazil? 11 People Charged With Trying to Set Up Jihadi Cell|work=NewsWeek|date=18 May 2018 |accessdate=2023-03-17}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/21/brazil-police-isis-sympathizers-arrested-olympics-plot|title=Brazilian police arrest Isis-linked group over alleged Olympics attack plot|work=The Guardian|date=21 July 2016 |accessdate=2023-03-17 |last1=Watts |first1=Jonathan }}

On 2 May 2017, Palestinian migrants threw a homemade bomb at far-right protesters, leaving several injured in São Paulo.{{cite news|url=https://m.folha.uol.com.br/amp/cotidiano/2017/05/1880596-lider-do-palestina-para-tods-e-preso-apos-confronto-com-direita-anti-imigracao.shtml|title=Palestinian migrants threw a bomb at anti-migration law protesters in São Paulo|publisher=Folha de S.Paulo}}

On 6 September 2018, the right-wing presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro was stabbed during a political campaign in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais.{{cite news|url=https://www.veja.abril.com.br/politica/bolsonaro-leva-facada-em-atentado-durante-campanha-em-juiz-de-fora/amp/|title=Presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro was stabbed during political campaign|publisher=VEJA}}

On 13 March 2019, two former students opened fire at a Brazilian school in Suzano, São Paulo. The pair killed at least five teenagers as well as two school officials before committing suicide in an attack that police said was inspired by the 1999 Columbine High School Massacre in the United States.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-violence-school/inspired-by-columbine-brazil-pair-kill-eight-and-themselves-in-school-shooting-idUSKBN1QU1TT|title= Impeded by Columbine, Brazil pair kill eight and themselves in school shooting|publisher=Reuters}}

On 2 September 2021, a man who was planning Islamic terrorist attacks was arrested in Maringá.{{cite news|title=Polícia Federal prende em Maringá homem suspeito de planejar atos terroristas |language=Portuguese|url=https://g1.globo.com/politica/noticia/2021/09/02/policia-federal-prende-homem-suspeito-de-planejar-atos-terroristas.ghtml|publisher=g1}}

On 8 November 2023, the Federal Police of Brazil arrested 2 men and carried out 11 search and seizure warrants in the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Brasília, in an operation against the terrorist group Hezbollah, which was planning attacks on synagogues in the country.{{Cite web |title=PF prende terroristas ligados ao Hezbollah e que planejavam ataques no Brasil|url=https://oglobo.globo.com/blogs/bela-megale/post/2023/11/pf-prende-terroristas-ligados-ao-hezbollah-e-que-planejavam-ataques-no-brasil.ghtml|access-date=8 November 2023 |website=O Globo |date=8 November 2023 |language=pt-br}}

Several newspapers, including O Globo, Veja, and Folha de S. Paulo, characterised the 2023 invasion of the Brazilian Congress as terrorism.{{Cite web |title=Invasão da Esplanada: crimes pelos quais terroristas bolsonaristas podem ser enquadrados |url=https://g1.globo.com/politica/noticia/2023/01/08/invasao-da-esplanada-possiveis-crimes-cometidos-por-terroristas-bolsonaristas.ghtml |access-date=8 January 2023 |website=G1 |date=8 January 2023 |language=pt-br |archive-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108200646/https://g1.globo.com/politica/noticia/2023/01/08/invasao-da-esplanada-possiveis-crimes-cometidos-por-terroristas-bolsonaristas.ghtml |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Terroristas invadiram Congresso com máscaras, capacetes e suprimentos |url=https://noticias.uol.com.br/politica/ultimas-noticias/2023/01/08/terrroristas-invadiram-congresso-com-mascaras-capacetes-e-suprimentos.htm |access-date=8 January 2023 |website=noticias.uol.com.br |language=pt-br |archive-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108203032/https://noticias.uol.com.br/politica/ultimas-noticias/2023/01/08/terrroristas-invadiram-congresso-com-mascaras-capacetes-e-suprimentos.htm |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Vídeo: terroristas bolsonaristas atacam policial mulher na frente do STF {{!}} Radar |url=https://veja.abril.com.br/coluna/radar/video-terroristas-bolsonaristas-atacam-policial-mulher-na-frente-do-stf/ |access-date=8 January 2023 |website=VEJA |language=pt-BR |archive-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108200353/https://veja.abril.com.br/coluna/radar/video-terroristas-bolsonaristas-atacam-policial-mulher-na-frente-do-stf/ |url-status=live }}

On 13 November 2024, a suicide bomber exploded a device in front of the Supreme Federal Court Palace and another one in his car at the National Congress parking lot. The Federal Police of Brazil and the Bomb Squad released the area and the Forensics Medical Institute removed the corpse only on the next morning.{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/13/americas/brazil-supreme-court-explosions-intl-latam/index.html|title=Explosives and timer found on suspect's body after attack on Brazil's top court|website=CNN|first1=Julia|last1=Vargas Jones|first2=Helen|last2=Regan|first3=Mia|last3=Alberti|date=14 November 2024|accessdate=14 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-top-court-evacuates-after-loud-bangs-heard-nearby-2024-11-13/|title=Suspected bomber dead after trying to enter Brazil's top court ahead of G20|website=Reuters|first1=Victor|last1=Borges|first2=Anthony|last2=Boadle|first3=Andre|last3=Romani|date=14 November 2024|accessdate=14 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://noticias.uol.com.br/ultimas-noticias/agencia-estado/2024/11/14/corpo-de-autor-de-ataque-em-brasilia-e-retirado-da-praca-dos-tres-poderes.htm|title=Corpo de autor de ataque em Brasília é retirado da Praça dos Três Poderes|website=UOL Notícias|language=pt-br|date=14 November 2024|accessdate=14 November 2024}}

On 21 March 2025, a man who had an arsenal of weapons and flags of ISIS and Al Qaeda was arrested in Porto Alegre.{{Cite web |title=Al-Qaeda: PF aponta planejamento de atentados terroristas no Brasil|url=https://www.metropoles.com/colunas/mirelle-pinheiro/al-qaeda-pf-aponta-planejamento-de-atentados-terroristas-no-brasil| access-date=21 March 2025|website=Metrópoles |date=21 March 2025 |language=pt-br}}

Responses and counterterrorism efforts

The Brazilian government has four pieces of terrorism legislation pending in Congress:"Chapter 2: Country Reports, Western Hemisphere Review." US State Department. Accessed January 30, 2015.

Visa denials – in 2011, legislation was introduced to deny visas to persons and/or expel foreigners convicted or accused of a terrorist act in another country;
Terrorism during the World Cup – in 2011, legislation was introduced that deals with specific crimes, including terrorism, during and preceding the 2014 FIFA World Cup;
Penal code update – legislation in 2012 sought to update the Brazilian penal code to include sentencing guidelines for terrorism crimes;
Terrorism definitions – legislation in 2013 sought to define terrorism under the Brazilian Constitution.

=Criticism=

There is a large concentration of Middle Eastern immigrants in the area near the Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil borders. Some authorities monitoring the area have stated that Brazil should participate more in the international fight against terrorism.