Members of Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad terrorist group detained in Uzbekistan
TASHKENT. Feb 19 (Interfax) - Activities of the Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad terrorist organization (banned in Russia) have been stopped in Uzbekistan, and 21 suspects have been detained, the Tashkent police department said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The activity of a group of followers and members of the Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad international terrorist organization has been stopped as a result of [...] operative measures taken by Interior Ministry officers," the statement said.
Eighteen locations were searched in Tashkent, and 21 people were detained within the framework of a criminal case opened on counts of "training or traveling for terrorist purposes," it said.
The detainees fell under the influence of an Uzbek citizen born in Tashkent, who is currently operating within the ranks of the terrorist group in Syria.
The detainees have been charged with criminal offenses, and the investigation has begun, the statement said.
According to the Russian Investigative Committee, the Katibat al Tawhid wal Jihad terrorist organization was involved in the blast in the St. Petersburg metro that killed 16 people, including the suspected terrorist, and injured at least 67 others in April 2017.