Four suspected ISIL members detained in Moscow for plotting terror attacks on city transport facilities - FSB
MOSCOW. May 25 (Interfax) - Russian security services have detained four people suspected of belonging to a terrorist group and plotting terrorist attacks on facilities of Moscow's transport infrastructure, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said.
"On May 25 in Moscow, the FSB of Russia detained four members of a terrorist group made up of citizens of Russia and countries of the Central Asian region, who were plotting terrorist attacks on facilities of Moscow's transport infrastructure using improvised explosive devices," the FSB press center told Interfax on Thursday.
"The terrorist group, which is affiliated with the Islamic State [ISIL] international terrorist organization, banned in Russia, was directed from the territory of Syria," it said.
After committing this sabotage and terrorist act, the terrorists planned to go to Syria to fight there on the side of ISIL, it said.
A laboratory for making explosive substances, a ready-to-use improvised explosive device filled with shrapnel and components for making it were found during searches carried out at the places of residence of the detained persons, the press center said.
In addition to that, automatic firearms, ammunition, grenades and literature and videos promoting extremism and terrorism were also confiscated.
"A criminal case is being opened against those detained," it said.
For his part, a source with knowledge of the matter told Interfax that the foreigners detained in the west of Moscow were presumably working as recruiters for terrorists, and their place of residence served as a prayer room.
Their apartment was used as a prayer room and was popular among local Muslims, he said.
The people living in this apartment are believed to have selected worshippers who were most susceptible to ideological brainwashing and involved them in terrorist activities, the source said.
It has already been established that one of the people living at this apartment traveled to Syria for a certain period, he said.
This source said earlier that officers of special services had found an item resembling an explosive device and extremist literature at an apartment rented by Central Asian natives on Novoperedelkinskaya Street in Moscow. Four men from Central Asia lived in this apartment. They were detained as part of an investigation into their suspected involvement in crimes and participation in extremist groups, the source said.