“Based on information from American partners”: FSB detained Russians preparing terrorist attack in St. Petersburg

Employees of the Federal Security Service of Russia detained two citizens of the Russian Federation who planned to carry out terrorist attacks in St. Petersburg during the New Year holidays. This was reported in the FSB Public Relations Center. The American intelligence provided the tip to the criminals to the Russian secret service.

“On the basis of information previously received from American partners, the FSB of the Russian Federation on December 27 detained two Russian citizens who intended to commit terrorist acts in crowded places in St. Petersburg during the New Year holidays,” the TASS message quotes.

It is noted that security officials seized materials from the detainees confirming their preparation of terrorist attacks. A criminal case has been reported under the articles “Preparing for the commission of a crime”, “Terrorism” and “Participation in the activities of terrorist organizations”.

Earlier, the Kremlin’s press service announced a telephone conversation between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, which was initiated by the Russian side. The head of state thanked his colleague for "information that helped prevent the commission of terrorist acts in Russia." Information was transmitted through special services.

In addition, the presidents of the two countries discussed a range of issues of mutual interest. In addition, Putin and Trump agreed to continue bilateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

Note that two years ago, on December 17, 2017, the US Central Intelligence Agency provided Russia with data that helped “detain terrorists who were preparing explosions in the Kazan Cathedral of St. Petersburg and in other crowded places of the city.”

“The information received from the CIA was sufficient to search for and detain criminals,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

Then the FSB detained seven members of the cell of the Islamic State terrorist group *. A significant amount of explosives, components of improvised explosive devices, automatic weapons, ammunition and extremist literature were seized from terrorists. In addition, employees of the department liquidated the laboratory for the manufacture of explosive devices.

Counterterrorism

On December 10, the final meeting of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee and the Federal Operational Headquarters was held in Moscow. During the event, the results of 2019 were summed up and the main areas of activity in 2020 were determined.

According to the NAC press service, 32 militants were neutralized, 41 ringleaders, 241 bandits and more than 600 accomplices were neutralized as part of counter-terrorism operations and operational-combat measures. In addition, the law enforcement agencies stopped the work of 78 cells of terrorist organizations, 83 illegal workshops for the production and conversion of weapons, neutralized eight criminal groups involved in the smuggling of weapons and ammunition from zones of armed conflict.

In addition, in cooperation with Roskomnadzor, the spread of terrorist propaganda on more than 50 thousand pages on the Internet was suppressed. NAC also talked about work to prevent crimes of a terrorist nature.

“More than 12 thousand targeted preventive measures were taken with people exposed to terrorist propaganda, about 14 thousand events with people serving sentences for committing crimes, about 35 thousand events with labor migrants,” the statement said.

At the same time, on December 13, officers of the FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained two Russians and three natives of Central Asian countries who were IS supporters. They intended to commit sabotage and terrorist acts.

During searches of the attackers, they found means of communication with instructions from emissaries from the IG. A Kalashnikov assault rifle, a Makarov pistol, and a makeshift bomb were removed from their weapons cache. A criminal case has been opened; all five suspects have been arrested during the investigation.

“Based on these facts, the investigative unit of the territorial security agency opened a criminal case. With respect to 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 FSB said.

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