Brazil's largest and most notorious criminal gang has reportedly threatened terrorist attacks at the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to take place in summer of 2014. The event has since been dubbed the "World Cup of Terror."
According to a report from Fox News, law enforcement officials in Brazil have intercepted communications from the First Capital Command drug cartel, known in Brazil by the Portuguese acronym PCC. Through these communications they've learned that a series of attacks may be in the works during the World Cup games.
News outlet France 24 reports that the possible attacks would be in retaliation to a potential transfer of some of the gang's more powerful leaders who are currently in jail in a solitary confinement unit at a maximum security prison, located in an isolated area of Sao Paolo.
These gang members communicate from behind bars with the outside world using mobile phones and other devices. As such, police officials are contemplating relocating the cartel bosses to the Presidente Bernardes Prison, where access to outsiders, including other members of the gang, would be increasingly difficult. Additionally, new equipment blocking mobile phone transmissions would be blocked at the prison.
If the transfer does take place, PCC has threatened more than just attacks on World Cup attendees. They have reportedly also threatened violence at the next presidential election, and say they will organize prison strikes and will target police officers.
This would not be the first time that PCC has planned and executed violent attacks against law enforcement. In 2012, the gang killed 106 members of the military police as revenge for the police killing off a number of suspected gang members.
However, officials in Brazil have issued statements to calm worldwide soccer fans, insisting that the PCC threats should not deter them from attending the epic event.
It is a group that should be taken seriously and is being fought like any criminal organization," Sao Paolo's security office said in a statement. "However, the information gathered so far by intelligence services does not point to any indication that an attack will occur."
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