The FSB announced the prevention of a terrorist attack in St. Petersburg

The Federal Security Service announced the prevention of terrorist attacks in St. Petersburg, who were going to arrange supporters of the Islamic State. This was reported by TASS with reference to the Center for Public Relations of the FSB.

Employees of the special services detained seven members of the "conspiracy cell" of Supporters of IG. According to the FSB, the detainees planned to perform “resonant terrorist acts” on Saturday through the self-separation of the suicide bomb ”in one of the religious institutions, as well as the killing of citizens and the undermining of homemade explosive devices in places of mass location of people.

The detainees seized "a significant number of explosives, components of homemade explosive devices, automatic weapons, ammunition, extremist literature." The FSB also reported the liquidation of the laboratory for the manufacture of explosives.

The TSOS report emphasizes that the cell management was carried out by the leaders of the IS from abroad through the Telegram messenger.

Meanwhile, the Vyborg District Court of St. Petersburg satisfied the petition of the senior investigator of the regional UFSB of the investigation and entered into the custody of Evgeny Efimov, accused of illegal production of explosive devices (Article 223.1 of the Criminal Code). "The defendant explained to the court that he illegally made explosives in order to blow up the Kazan Cathedral on December 17, 2017," the United press service of the vessels of St. Petersburg reports .

Later, the FSB published a video of the detention.

The FSB regularly reports on the detentions of Supporters of IG in various regions of Russia. On Tuesday, the Central Department Store stated that three visitors from the countries of Central Asia were detained in Moscow and the Moscow Region. It was alleged that he were members of the “deeply conspiracy” IG group and were preparing to conduct terrorist attacks, including with the participation of suicide bombers, during the New Year holidays and during the presidential election. Foreigners were charged with Article 205.1 (assistance to terrorism), 205.4 (organization of a terrorist community or participation in it) and 205.5 of the Criminal Code (organization of the activities of a terrorist organization or participation in the activities of one). All three have already been arrested.

According to the plot of the case, the cell was led by the IG commanders who are abroad. The defendants themselves, the FSB claims, in addition to preparing for the attack, were involved in the financing of terrorism and recruiting new members. According to the special services, a conspiratorial apartment was opened in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow Region, in which the suspects synthesized explosives for the manufacture of bombs. The defendants said in the message, two home-made bombs, two AK-74 assault rifles, two stores with 5.45 caliber cartridges, grenades F-1 and RGD with fuse, as well as 2.5 kilograms of precursors for explosives were removed.