Dino refutes criticism that the Israeli service controlled the PF in operation

Minister Flávio Dino, of Justice and Public Security, refuted criticism that Mossad, Israel’s secret service, had controlled the Federal Police investigations that led to the arrest of two suspects of planning terrorist acts this Wednesday (8).

The criticism arose after the office of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stated that “the Brazilian security services, together with the Mossad”, and other international security agencies, “thwarted a terrorist attack in Brazil, planned by the terrorist organization Hezbollah, directed and financed by Iran.” “Mossad will continue to operate to prevent these attacks wherever and whenever necessary,” he added.

Dino said, this Thursday morning (9), that international agreements allow for broad legal and police cooperation, with “countries of different ideological hues”. But, at no time, is there a relationship of subordination between one authority and another.

“No foreign force rules the Brazilian Federal Police. And no representative of a foreign government can intend to anticipate the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Police, which is still ongoing,” he stated in a note published on social media (see in full) .

Also according to the minister, the analysis of evidence in international reports is carried out by Federal Police delegates, submitting requests to the Brazilian Judiciary. And that the warrants served in the investigation into the possibility of acts of terrorism were the result of court decisions.

Flávio Dino emphasized that, if there is evidence, it is the Federal Police’s duty to investigate to confirm or refute the hypotheses. The authority’s conduct, he says, is guided exclusively by Brazilian laws, without involvement in international conflicts, and it is not the institution’s responsibility to analyze foreign policy issues.

“Federal Police investigations began before the outbreak of the ongoing tragedies on the international scene”, highlighted the minister in reference to the war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas, which has been going on for more than a month.

Despite stating that he appreciates international cooperation, Dino repudiated the allegation that foreign authorities direct Brazilian police bodies or use investigations for political purposes. He also stated that the Federal Police will present, at the legally opportune moment, the results of the investigation to the Brazilian Judiciary, based on technical analyzes and evidence examined “exclusively by the Brazilian authorities”.

Operation Trapiche, launched by the PF on Wednesday (8), arrested two Brazilians suspected of having been recruited by the terrorist group Hezbollah, which has opposed Israel in the conflict against Hamas. Investigations indicate that they were planning attacks against Jewish community buildings in Brazil, mainly synagogues.

Two other people with dual nationality are being investigated in Lebanon by Interpol at the request of Brazilian authorities.

The Brazilian Israeli Confederation (Conib) stated that the arrest of suspected links to Hezbollah generated “huge concern”, and that “terrorism, in all its aspects, must be combated and repudiated by the entire Brazilian society”.