After the first alert sent by the USA, the Federal Police prevent an imminent attack in Brazil.
After a first alert sent by the United States, investigations by the Federal Police prevented an imminent attack in Brazil. The Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah recruited Brazilians for attacks against the Jewish community in the Federal District.
The videos, shown on Fantástico, were recorded in 2023, in Taguatinga, Brasília. It is possible to see that a car passes in front of a synagogue and returns, stops for a moment in the same place and leaves.
In another video, the radio is on and there is a baby in the car. A vehicle then passes in front of another synagogue, in Águas Claras, also in the Federal District. In the last video, a car passes through the Israeli cemetery in Brasília.
The synagogues and the cemetery are part of a list found with one of those accused of terrorism arrested by the federal police at the end of 2023.
The list has eight representative locations of the Jewish community in Brasília and Goiás, in addition to a survey of a rabbi.
The Federal Police claims that the investigations prevented a terrorist attack that could have been committed in Brazil.
The videos were stored online, and the account access email is from Lucas Passos Lima, arrested by federal police in November 2023, when he returned from his second trip to Lebanon.
He is one of the Brazilians who, according to investigations, was recruited by the Lebanese group Hezbollah. Supported by Iran, the group is considered terrorist by countries such as the United States, France and Germany. Lucas’s contact is a Syrian naturalized Brazilian.
His contact would be with a Syrian, naturalized Brazilian, Mohamad Khir Abdulmajid. He is wanted by Interpol because he is the main target of the operation that investigates the recruitment of Brazilians by Hezbollah. On social media, the fugitive claims to be a fighter for the group in Syria. He would have attracted at least five Brazilians.
The Federal Police intercepted Mohamad’s messages with an unidentified man, who claims he can get people to do whatever he wants. “Robbing a bank, blowing up an armored car. Whatever you want to do, I have people to fix it for you”, said a man to the Syrian.
Lucas and Mohamad are defendants for the crimes of terrorism and criminal organization, but the investigation continues. Part of the investigation was split up so that the PF can continue investigating other Brazilians who were also wanted by Hezbollah.
I had already accepted
According to the program, shortly before the trip, Lucas Passos stated in a text message that he was willing to accept recruitment. “Once closed, you can let whatever you order be carried out. Without backing down.”
The Brazilian would have been sent to Lebanon by Mohamad on both occasions, to talk to members of Hezbollah. While in the country, Lucas stayed in luxury hotels, went sightseeing and received gifts and money from the group.
In one of them, he purchased communications and espionage equipment. He also frequented shooting ranges, an attitude that investigators considered suspicious. Furthermore, the suspect also sought out airline pilots and asked about clandestine travel.
“Suppose I want to get to the border now. Who are you going to warn? Or can I leave clandestinely, leave? Won’t there be anyone who will disturb you at the top or wherever you land?”, he questioned.
Lucas and Mohamed are defendants for the crimes of terrorism and criminal organization, but investigations continue. Other Brazilians are also investigated.
Lucas’ defense says that the allegation that he was recruited or has involvement with terrorist groups is reckless and unreasonable, so the defense believes in his innocence and will seek to prove it throughout the procedural process. Mohamed does not have a lawyer. ‘
“Unlike Trapiche, where the form of conquest is financial, in this second case, radicalization occurs for ideological reasons. He searched through social media and managed to recruit young minors,” said police chief Leopoldo Soares Lacerda.
Another suspect is Fábio Samuel da Costa Oliveira, who was arrested by the PF when he tried to board a flight to Turkey. The two men linked to Hezbollah and who were in contact with it were captured in Spain. His defense was not located.
“At any indication and communication that there may be a terrorist threat in Brazil, we act preventively to dissuade any conduct that could lead to a tragedy”, reinforces the delegate.
