Russia detains suspect over alleged plot targeting rail Infrastructure

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had prevented a planned attack on railway infrastructure in the city of Pyatigorsk in the Stavropol region, detaining a suspect described as a native of a Central Asian country and a supporter of an international terrorist organisation.

According to the FSB’s Public Relations Centre, cited by TASS, “It was established that the suspect, acting on instructions and under the coordination of a handler located in Syria, was preparing an attack using an improvised incendiary device on a railway transport infrastructure facility in the Stavropol region. <...> After carrying out the terrorist attack, the individual planned to travel to Syria and join the ranks of an international terrorist organisation.”

The FSB said the suspect had conducted photographic reconnaissance at the intended site of the attack and had acquired chemical substances to manufacture incendiary bottles.

He was identified and detained in a timely manner as a result of operational-search measures, the agency said. During a search of his residence, officers reportedly discovered ready-to-use improvised incendiary devices, as well as communication equipment containing instructions from his handler.

The investigative department of the FSB directorate for the Stavropol region has opened a criminal case under articles related to preparation for a terrorist act and participation in the activities of an organisation designated as a terrorist in Russia.

By Tamilla Hasanova