One of the detainees suspected of being behind the attack on a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow (Reuters)
The Russian Federal Security Service announced on Friday evening that it had arrested “three citizens of a Central Asian country” who were planning to launch a bomb attack in southern Russia, a week after the attack on a concert hall near Moscow that led to the deaths of at least 144 people.
The Security Service said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that it had put an end to the activities of 3 citizens from a Central Asian country who were planning to commit an attack by detonating an explosive device in a public place in the Stavropol region.
Russian television showed scenes showing a number of men lying on the ground between cars after they were arrested by the Russian Federal Security Service.
RIA Novosti state news agency reported that components for making a hand-held explosive device and chemicals were found in the suspects' homes.
In a related context, the State Security Service in Tajikistan detained 9 people on suspicion of contacting the perpetrators of the attack on a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, according to Russian official media.
The RIA Novosti news agency reported - yesterday, Friday - quoting an unnamed source in the special services in Tajikistan as saying that Russian security forces also participated in the operation to arrest the suspects.
The announcement of this information comes a week after an attack on the Crocus City Hall near the Russian capital, which resulted in the killing of 144 people and the injury of 360 others. While the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, the Russian authorities insist that Ukraine has a connection to it.
12 people were arrested after the attack, including 4 suspected of carrying it out and hailing from Tajikistan, the former Soviet republic in Central Asia, where ISIS is active.
For years, the Russian Federal Security Service has regularly announced thwarting attacks in Russia, without providing sufficient information about their circumstances.
Source: Al Jazeera + Reuters