Police officers take simulated terrorists into custody during an anti-terrorism rehearsal at the "Golfe Olimpico" BRT station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Feb. 11, 2015. An anti-terrorism rehearsal was held here targeting the possible hostage crisis during the Olympic Games on Wednesday. During the rehearsal, the Tactical Intervention Unit (ITU) of Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE) came to the rescue of the detained hostages in a BRT bus near the Olympic Golf course. This training was part of the BOPE's preparation for the Olympic Games and other similar situations. (Xinhua/Xu Zijian)
RIO DE JANEIRO, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Brazil has launched an awareness campaign designed to foil terror plots during the Rio Olympics in August.
The South American country is not a traditional terrorist target and the government hopes the initiative will reduce Rio's vulnerability to possible attacks.
"It's a simple, informative campaign without calling for hysteria," defence ministry official Luiz Felipe Linhares said in a statement on Tuesday.
The campaign involves the distribution of brochures, posters and booklets explaining how to identify people engaging in suspicious activity, the government said.
"Our country has never faced this type of threat so we need to make sure that people are more alert," Brazilian defence force anti-terrorism chief, Mauro Sinott said.
"The message that we want to pass on is that if you think a certain situation is suspicious, it is because it is in fact suspicious."
Earlier this month the government said Brazil's intelligence agencies were working alongside counterparts in the United States, England, France, Israel and Russia to counter the threat of terrorism.
Brazil will also deploy tens of thousands of troops in Rio's streets to ensure the safety of athletes, officials, residents and an estimated 600,000 foreign visitors during the August 5-21 Games.
In total there will be 85,000 security personnel - including armed forces, police and security agents - patrolling the city. The figure is more than double the number used at the London 2012 Olympics.
Related:
Rio State governor admits Olympics could be "big failure" amid crisis
RIO DE JANEIRO, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Rio de Janeiro's interim governor Francisco Dornelles admitted Monday that the Olympic Games could be a "big failure" if there are no appropriate measures taken in regards to security and transport during the Games.
Dornelles declared an unprecedented "state of public calamity in financial administration" earlier this month with less than 50 days until the opening ceremony, which could threaten "the fulfillment of the obligations as a result of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Rio 2016". Full story
