Russia's FSB neutralizes terrorist planning attacks on Moscow synagogue, metro

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has neutralized a member of a terrorist organization who was planning attacks on a synagogue in the Moscow Region and in the Moscow metro.

"The terrorist activity of a Russian citizen, a native of one of the Central Asian countries, a member of a banned international terrorist organization (ITO), was thwarted in the Moscow region. The terrorist intended to detonate homemade explosive devices at a Jewish cultural institution in the Moscow region and at one of the stations of the Moscow metro," the FSB's Public Relations Center said in a statement, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

After the attacks, he planned to leave for Afghanistan and join the ranks of the ITO.

"During his arrest, the criminal resisted with weapons, and as a result, he was neutralized by return fire," the FSB stated.

The statement reads that after pledging allegiance to the terrorist organization, the suspect conducted reconnaissance of the area and acquired components for making explosive devices. During investigative actions at his place of residence, firearms, components, chemicals, and shrapnel for assembling explosive devices were discovered.

An investigation has been launched by the investigative division of the FSB for Moscow and the Moscow region under Part 1 of Article 30, Part 2 of Article 205 (preparation for a terrorist act), and Part 2 of Article 205.5 (participation in the activities of a terrorist organization) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

By Khagan Isayev