Russia’s Federal Security Service said Monday that it thwarted planned terror attacks targeting synagogues in two Russian cities — Krasnoyarsk in Siberia and Pyatigorsk in the Stavropol region.
In a statement, the FSB said the attacks were being organized by “supporters of an international terrorist organization banned in Russia.”
Russia says it foiled plot to bomb synagogues, arrests suspects and seizes explosives
(Video: FSB)
According to the agency, intelligence indicated that the suspects planned the assaults “to protect the Palestinian population affected by the conflict with Israel.” Security officials said the individuals involved were ideological extremists motivated by religious hatred rather than humanitarian concerns.
The FSB said a large-scale operation was carried out in both cities, leading to the seizure of explosives, weapons and communications equipment that contained instructions for carrying out the attacks. A criminal investigation has been opened on suspicion of preparing and attempting to commit a terrorist act, the agency said.
“Russia will continue to resolutely combat all manifestations of religious and extremist terrorism within its borders,” the FSB said in the statement.
Footage released by the security service showed the arrests in Krasnoyarsk, where security forces entered an apartment, pressed a man against a wall and asked for his name. Another man was detained outside the building and forced to the ground. The suspects appeared in the video admitting that they intended to blow up a synagogue.
In the second part of the footage, officers are seen making another arrest in Pyatigorsk, where a man was taken into custody while walking near several cottages. The man also confessed that he had planned to bomb a synagogue, according to the video.
The footage also showed Molotov cocktails and explosive materials that were allegedly seized during the raids.
The FSB did not specify how many suspects were detained or whether the planned attacks were linked to any specific organization.