A man linked to a banned terrorist organization has been arrested in Stavropol Region, according to the security services
A man who was planning to carry out a terrorist attack on a passenger train has been arrested in Russia, the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Thursday.
The suspect is from Central Asia and is believed to have pledged allegiance to an organization that is banned in Russia.
He was detained in Stavropol Region, where he was preparing an attack on a train operating between the cities of Kislovodsk and Mineralnye Vody, according to an FSB statement.
Officials said he had conducted reconnaissance of the area and obtained materials needed to assemble an explosive device.
Security forces reported finding components, chemicals, and shrapnel elements for a homemade bomb at the man’s residence in the city of Yessentuki.
The FSB claims that the suspect had planned to travel to Syria to join a terrorist group after the attack.
The agency has also shared a video of the suspect’s capture and interrogation, in which he confessed to having been ordered to blow up a train. He also confirmed that he had bought the components to make a bomb but didn’t get the chance to carry out the attack. The footage also shows the items found in the suspect’s apartment.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the suspect’s identity. It is also unclear to which terrorist group the man had pledged allegiance.
Last month, Russian security forces reported having prevented another terrorist attack that was being plotted by ISIS-linked operatives in Moscow. In that incident, an armed group allegedly belonging to the Afghan branch of Islamic State, ISIS-K, was reportedly planning to target law enforcement officers before being neutralized by special forces.
The suspects resisted arrest and were subsequently eliminated during a shootout with officers, the FSB said, noting that the uncovered ISIS-K cell had comprised individuals from Central Asian countries.
