By Rositta Liosi – EM TV Online
As the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games approach, host country Brazil, has been urged to take security threats seriously.
Fears have risen in recent days since the devastating attacks on Paris which left 130 people dead.
A Government watchdog has admitted, however, “flaws” in Brazil’s border security are a “big concern” with barely eight months to go until the Games begin.
Brazil appears less at risk to radical Islamist terrorist groups than European countries, with lower-level street-crime considered more of a risk.
Securing the border, which touches 10 countries and runs through remote areas of the Amazon jungle, is therefore key, Government auditor Augusto Nardes has warned.
“We are aware that we have seven months to correct [the problem],” Nardes said.
Up to 65,000 police are expected to be deployed during the Olympics and Paralympics, an increase on the 40,000 present at London 2012.
A contingency force of another 15,000 troops is also set to be on-hand to be deployed in case of an emergency.
