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| Militant cell that planned NY & Christmas attacks in Moscow detained – anti-terrorism committee | Militant cell that planned NY & Christmas attacks in Moscow detained – anti-terrorism committee |
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| Russian security services detained all members of a terrorist cell that had been plotting attacks during the holiday season in Moscow, the National Anti-Terrorism Committee says. The group reportedly received orders from a Syria-based top-tier commander. | Russian security services detained all members of a terrorist cell that had been plotting attacks during the holiday season in Moscow, the National Anti-Terrorism Committee says. The group reportedly received orders from a Syria-based top-tier commander. |
| The Syrian terrorist commander, identified as Abu-Zarra, ordered militants to move to Moscow in order to get weapons supplies or seize firearms from police officers, Andrey Przezdomsky, head of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) press service, said on Tuesday. | The Syrian terrorist commander, identified as Abu-Zarra, ordered militants to move to Moscow in order to get weapons supplies or seize firearms from police officers, Andrey Przezdomsky, head of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) press service, said on Tuesday. |
| “At this point, all members of the terrorist cells are in custody,” he added. | |
| According to the official, migrants from central Asia and the Caucasus form the nucleus of most terrorist sleeper cells active in Russia. “Migrants coming from [these regions] – who failed to integrate into society and are locked in mono-ethnic groups – are fertile soil for terrorist activities,” Przezdomsky said. | |
| Over the course of 2016, Russian security services eliminated over 140 members of terrorist cells, among them 24 top-tier militants, said Igor Kulyagin, the NAC’s deputy chief of staff. | |
| All militants were shot dead in counter-terrorism operations or brief encounters with security servicemen, he said, also mentioning the killing of the “notorious leader” of Vilayat Kavkaz, an Islamic State-affiliated (IS, previously ISIS/ISIL) international terrorist group. | |
| Kulyagin added that the intelligence agencies also foiled a cell planning terrorist attacks during the 2016 Ice Hockey World Championship hosted by Russia. |