“On the demand to lay down arms opened fire”: in Bashkiria, the militant preparing the attack was neutralized

In the suburbs of Ufa, the militant who planned to carry out the attack was neutralized. According to the National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC), the attacker was detained on the evening of March 21.

Law enforcement officers tried to stop the car in which the armed militant was located. Police demanded to lay down their arms, in response, the attacker opened fire. In the ensuing shootout, the perpetrator was neutralized.

It is clarified that a neutralized gunman was found carrying a gun and a homemade bomb.

“A gun and an improvised improvised explosive device ready for use were found at the site of the shootout. According to reports, the neutralized bandit intended to commit a terrorist attack, ”the committee noted.

There are no losses among law enforcement officers or civilians. Law enforcement agencies continue the necessary operational-search measures and investigative actions.

Operation against interregional cell IG *

Earlier in March, it became known about the suppression of the activities of a terrorist cell engaged in the resource support of militants. The operation was carried out by the FSB of Russia in cooperation with the Federal Financial Monitoring Service on the territory of the republics of Crimea, Komi and the Rostov region.

The malefactors detained by the security forces at the direction of the IS emissaries created an interregional network for collecting, accumulating and transferring funds. Under the guise of charity, about 2 million rubles were transferred to the accounts of terrorists and their accomplices.

In early March, two more terrorist cells operating in Russia were also discovered. March 5, it became known about the suppression of the group in Rostov-on-Don. The leader of this cell was a citizen of Afghanistan; two criminal cases were brought against him.

The day before, the cell of the terrorists was exposed in Tver. In this city there was a group of people who supported the activities of terrorists with resources. The cell leader participated in hostilities against Syrian government forces. The group included natives of one of the republics of Central Asia. Criminal proceedings have been instituted.

Anti-terrorism in 2019

In early March, the NAC reported on counter-terrorism work in 2019. It follows from the committee’s report that during this period, officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the FSB and the Russian Guard have detained 41 terrorist leaders and 241 ordinary insurgents.

Security officials also stopped the activities of 78 cells of banned organizations, whose members planned to carry out terrorist attacks on social facilities and attacks on employees of state power structures.

In addition, law enforcement agencies also opened and liquidated 83 underground workshops for the production and conversion of weapons.

In total, in 2019, law enforcement agencies managed to prevent 57 terrorist crimes, including 34 terrorist attacks, at the preparation stage.

Speaking about activities over a longer period, the NAC noted that from 2015 to 2019 the number of terrorist crimes decreased by nine times.

As stated in the organization, a significant role in this achievement was played by the media, which worked on high-quality documentaries and series of reports on anti-terrorism topics.

We add that at the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia came up with an initiative to ban entry into the country for foreign citizens involved in extremist activities or terrorism. The Office has prepared a bill of the appropriate content.

It follows that the current list of grounds for not permitting entry to Russia by a foreign citizen or stateless person is participation "in the activities of an organization included in the list of organizations and individuals for which there is information about their involvement in extremist activities or terrorism" .

In the event that a foreign citizen’s involvement in extremism is established, he will be blocked by cash accounts and property. If the document is adopted, the proposed rules will enter into force in December 2020.

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