"Explosive device discovered": FSB prevented a terrorist attack in the Kaliningrad region

The Russian Federal Security Service prevented a terrorist attack at an energy facility in the Kaliningrad region.

This was reported in a statement issued by the Public Relations Center of the department.

The service said that they detained a Russian citizen who was planning to commit a terrorist act "out of hatred of the current government."

In addition, the man recruited local residents to participate in terrorist activities.

"At his place of residence, an improvised explosive device, instructions for its manufacture and components for synthesizing explosives, as well as materials with offensive content against the Russian executive and legislative authorities were found," the message says.

A criminal case was opened against the detainee, the issue of choosing a preventive measure is being decided, the FSB said.

The department also published a video of the arrest of the Russian.

The footage shows how the security forces break down the door to the suspect's house and detain the man.

The video also shows an improvised explosive device seized by department officials.

Components for an explosive device, including submunitions, were also found in the house and on the site.

Cases of prevention of terrorist attacks on the territory of Russia

In recent months, the Federal Security Service has prevented several terrorist attacks, which were planned to be carried out in the country by radicals.

For example, in mid-February, security officials detained 19 supporters of the At-Takfir wal-Hijra * organization who were planning terrorist attacks in the North Caucasus.

Radicals were identified on the territory of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Crimea, Krasnodar Territory and Rostov Region.

In addition to the planned attacks, they recruited local residents into the ranks of the group.

During the searches, extremist materials, an RPK machine gun, an AKM machine gun, cartridges and improvised explosive devices with a total weight of more than 3 kg in TNT equivalent were seized from them.

The radicals' cache also contained a suicide belt with striking elements.

In January, FSB officers detained a follower of radical Islamism who was preparing a terrorist attack in Bashkiria.

It turned out to be a Russian citizen born in 1995.

The press service of the department reported that the man was preparing an armed attack on law enforcement officers; components of a homemade bomb and firearms were found in his possession.

As it became known from the correspondence in his gadgets, the extremist received instructions from the emissaries of the terrorist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham **.

In December, the FSB, together with the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, detained four members of the Islamic State cell in Dagestan ***.

According to the ministry, they planned to arrange an explosion near one of the administrative buildings of the police and attack the employees of the republic's Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“Firearms and edged weapons, a large amount of ammunition, an explosive device were found in a hiding place equipped by terrorists and in the address of a secret residence, and correspondence with coordinators of terrorist activities abroad was found in mobile phones,” the ministry said.

The fight against terrorism in Russia

At the end of February, President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a meeting of the FSB board, said that terrorism is the most acute and dangerous threat.

In particular, he recalled that in December 2020, the last organized bandit group that committed crimes on the territory of the Chechen Republic and Ingushetia was destroyed, and also noted the fight against terrorism in Syria.

“In 2020, 72 terrorist crimes were prevented.

This is a quarter more than a year earlier - there were 57, ”the president said.

The head of state stressed the need not only to identify and eliminate terrorist cells, but also to track the contacts of the militants, suppressing attempts to propaganda and recruiting young people. 

* "At-Takfir wal-Hijra" is a religious association recognized as extremist and banned on the territory of Russia (decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of 15.09.2010).

** “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” (“Jabhat Fath al-Sham”, “Front al-Nusra”, “Jabhat al-Nusra”) - the organization was recognized as terrorist by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated December 29, 2014.

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