Pro-Al Qaeda group calls to target Olympics, emphasizes attacks on U.S., France, Israel, U.K. athletes

Pro-Al Qaeda jihadis are issuing a series of directives ahead of next month’s Olympics urging their followers to carry out so-called 'lone wolf' attacks at the Rio Games, according to material obtained by The Foreign Desk. In a list published on social media, jihadis are advised to target American, British, French and Israeli athletes with the notion that “One small knife attack against Americans/Israelis in these places will have bigger media effect than any other attacks anywhere else in sha Allah.” “Your chance to take part in the global Jihad is here! Your chance to be a martyr is here!” the jihadis said, citing the easy process of obtaining visas for travel to Brazil as well as the wide availability of guns in “crime-ridden slums.” Israeli athletes are further singled out. “From amongst the worst enemies, the most famous enemies for general Muslims is to attack Israelis. As general Muslims all agree to it and it causes more popularity for the Mujahideen amongst the Muslims,” they state. During the Summer Olympics of 1972, 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage by the Palestinian terror group Black September. They later died during a botched rescue attempt by West German authorities. A police officer was also killed. Spectators are also legitimate targets for attackers who are advised to look for them in packed bars and clubs where drunken targets will be easy to find, but attacks should prioritize important leaders, ambassadors and officials, the list says. Among the outlandish ideas, the list suggests poisoning food, using toy drones with small explosives and kidnapping Israelis and Americans to “free Muslim prisoners.” They can also carry lubricating oil to pour on highways, the posts says, with sharp curves they hope will cause accidents and “see Israeli Jews flying with their vehicle by the will of Allah.” Following the list’s publication, several supplemental posts have also been made, using the hashtag #RioLW or “Rio lone wolf.” Jihadis are reminded to prepare a claim of responsibility, such as an email prior to the attack or a scheduled Facebook post. Recently, some jihadi groups have expressed concern over terrorist attacks being misinterpreted by the media as in the Orlando shooting being referred to by some as a possible hate crime targeting gays.