Brazilians call on Israeli special forces experts to help guard against terror attack at Olympics
Secret deal sees elite units drafted in ahead of the Opening Ceremony
BRAZILIAN security chiefs brought in the Israeli special forces to help guard against a terror attack at next month's Olympic Games, it's been claimed.
More than 10,000 soldiers and cops have received special training from the elite troops and private contractors who are skilled in dealing with terror threats.
Reports from Israel reveal their security teams have also provided state-of-the art monitoring and tracking equipment to keep tags on terror suspects.
Troops and ex officers from the Israeli special forces are believed to be among those working with the Brazilian army.
The Israeli experts will NOT be on duty during the Games, but were said to be involved in troop training at least up until May.
Then the 'contract' was said to have been put on ice following protests from the Palestinians.
But reports in Israel claim up to 35 private security firms are still involved in providing some kind of security help.
Two weeks ago, al-Qaeda sympathisers issued a list of directives on social media calling for their followers to carry out "lone-wolf" attacks against American, British, French and Israeli athletes, using knives, poison, explosives-laden drones and kidnappings.
The instructions also specified why the group's followers should target Israeli athletes and spectators.
"One small knife attack against Americans/Israelis in these places will have bigger media effect than any other attacks anywhere else, inshallah [God willing]," one of the directives read.
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The news comes after the Brazilian government met to reassess security measures ahead of next month's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The review followed the attack in the French city of Nice on 14 July which left at least 84 people dead.
The government said that the measures may make attending the games less comfortable for visitors but they would result in greater security.
The Games are expected to attract as many as 500,000 foreign visitors.
"The attack in Nice is worrisome for us too. We will review procedures, make more barriers, more spot-checks on visitors and roadblocks", said Defence Minister Raul Jungmann.
The authorities had previously declared public holidays and banned trucks from certain areas of Rio during the Olympics to ease congestion and improve emergency response capabilities.
Rio's mayor, Eduardo Paes, said security would be beefed up for Olympic delegations from countries which have been targeted.
Mr Paes did not give any further details, but the head of French military intelligence said France had been informed of a planned terror attack on its team at the Rio Games.
Gen Christophe Gomart told a parliamentary commission in May that a "partner agency" warned of the plot by a Brazilian Islamist militant.
The transcript of the hearing was made public this week.
"Brazil is confident about its preparations. We are employing the most modern security and defence techniques", Sports Minister Leonardo Picciani told Reuters news agency.
Earlier this week, Mr Picciani said the armed forces would get an extra £18m to help them meet security needs.
The military would begin patrolling sports venues from 24 July, he added.
More than 80,000 police and soldiers will patrol the streets of Rio for the duration of the games.