Russian authorities detain teenager over alleged church attack plot in Ufa

Russian security services have detained a 16-year-old in the city of Ufa on suspicion of recruiting fellow students and planning a terrorist attack on an Orthodox church, authorities said.

The Investigative Committee of Russia said that the teenager, from the republic of Bashkortostan, had been attempting to enlist secondary school and college students to take part in extremist activities, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media on Telegram.

Russia’s Federal Security Service said the suspect had been recruited online by an individual using the alias “Mansur al-Ukraini,” who was allegedly based in Ukraine, through the messaging platform Telegram.

According to investigators, the teenager was planning to assemble an improvised explosive device and target one of Ufa’s Orthodox churches. Authorities added that he was allegedly preparing to carry out a suicide attack during the Easter period.

The case remains under investigation.

By Sabina Mammadli