Maikop court sends defendant in church terrorist plot to pretrial detention

The Maykop City Court of the Republic of Adygea has sent the defendant in the case of preparing a terrorist attack on an Orthodox church to a pretrial detention facility until September 10. This was reported to TASS by the united press service of the regional courts.

The day before, the FSB reported on the prevention of an attack on a church in Adygea. According to the agency, a citizen of one of the Central Asian countries and a supporter of the "Islamic State" planned to kill priests and guards and set fire to the church.

The FSB published a video of the detainee. It first shows him pouring gasoline into canisters at a gas station.

Then, during the investigative actions, he says on camera: "They took gasoline, wanted to climb through the fence and set the church on fire." At this time, the detainee is kneeling, and one of the security officers is holding him by the hair. The young man says that he "watched the videos" and mentions the flag of the "Islamic State." Later, near the Holy Dormition Cathedral, he said: "If there had been a guard, we would have wanted to stab him, I initially said that I wanted to stab him."

According to the FSB, the detainee "conducted reconnaissance of the area, drew up a plan of attack, purchased the necessary components and made homemade incendiary devices." An ISIS flag and a knife were also found at his home. The man was going to film the attack and then wanted to leave Russia, the agency added.

On June 23, Orthodox churches and synagogues were fired upon in Derbent and Makhachkala, and police officers were attacked. 21 people were killed, including 16 security officers. The night after the terrorist attack, the National Anti-Terrorism Committee reported the killing of five militants. The Investigative Committee opened a case on the terrorist attack and illegal acquisition and storage of weapons. It is known that four suspects were sent to pretrial detention.