Al Qaeda group urges attacks on Israeli Olympic athletes at Rio

Jihadists have reportedly been using social media to encourage lone wolf-style attacks on Israelis at the Rio Olympics.

According to material obtained by the Foreign Desk news website, social media messages from a group backing Al Qaeda urge would-be jihadists to attack athletes from a number of Western countries, including France and the UK.

However, US and Israeli athletes were highlighted as priority targets, with messages stating: “One small knife attack against Americans/Israelis in these places will have bigger media effect than any other attacks anywhere else.”

The posts went on to say: “From amongst the worst enemies, the most famous enemies for general Muslims is [sic] to attack Israelis.”