They found a machine gun, a pistol and a bomb: the FSB detained five IS fighters in Moscow

In Moscow, FSB and MVD officers detained five Islamic State militants *. Security officials said that among them were two Russians and three natives of Central Asian countries. They planned to carry out attacks.

“The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, together with the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Moscow, suppressed the activities of members of the Islamic State, an international terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation, that included two citizens of the Russian Federation and three natives of Central Asian countries who intended to commit sabotage and terrorist acts,” - the FSB said in a statement.

It is reported that during the searches, militants found means of communication with instructions from their emissaries from the IG. A Kalashnikov assault rifle, a Makarov pistol, and a makeshift bomb were found in the caches. A criminal case was opened, all five suspects were arrested during the investigation.

“Based on these facts, the investigative unit of the territorial security body has opened a criminal case. In respect of the defendants, the court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention. Currently, further operational-search measures and investigative actions are being conducted, ”the department added.

The fact that international terrorist organizations are trying to create their cells on the territory of Russia was previously told by the head of the FSB and the chairman of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC), Alexander Bortnikov.

“Terrorists continue to make attempts to form conspiratorial cells aimed at carrying out terrorist attacks,” RIA Novosti reports his words said during the final meeting of the NAC and the Federal Operational Headquarters (FOS) on December 10.

So, in November, the FSB, together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Guard, detained nine members of the Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami group **. The operation was carried out in Moscow, Tatarstan and the Tyumen region. At the same time, at least two of the detainees are the leaders of the banned terrorist association in Russia.

“The members of the structure carried out anti-constitutional activities based on the doctrine of creating the so-called world caliphate, destroying the institutions of secular society and aimed at overthrowing the current government by force,” the FSB said.

And in early November, law enforcement agencies opened an IS cell in Dagestan, which raised funds to finance a terrorist group in Syria. It consisted of two women 24 and 33 years old. In the course of their activities, they collected about 10 million rubles.

“On the instructions of the emissaries, members of the radical cell from among the residents of the specified region organized resource support for the activities of the MTO (international terrorist organization. - RT ), for which they collected at least 10 million rubles,” the FSB said.

The fight against terrorism in 2019

During the final meeting of the NAC and FOS, Bortnikov said that in 2019, as part of the fight against terrorist organizations, 32 militants were neutralized, 41 ringleaders, 241 bandits and more than 600 of their accomplices were detained. In total, law enforcement agencies stopped the work of 78 cells of terrorist organizations and 83 illegal workshops for the production and conversion of weapons.

This year, three terrorist crimes were committed, the head of the FSB said. However, we are not talking about terrorist attacks - this category includes calls for terrorism, recruitment, hostage-taking and others.

According to Bortnikov, the number of such crimes is reduced annually. If in 2013 there were 218, then in 2018 there are already nine. This year 50 such crimes were averted. In addition, law enforcement agencies did not commit a single attack, the head of the FSB emphasized.

“This year, the downward trend in the number of crimes of a terrorist nature has continued. The coordinated actions of law enforcement agencies prevented the vast majority of terrorist attacks and prevent terrorist attacks, ”he said.

* “Islamic State” (IG) - the organization was recognized as terrorist by decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of December 29, 2014.

** “Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami” (“Islamic Liberation Party”) - the organization was recognized as terrorist by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of February 14, 2003.