MOSCOW. Aug 14 (Interfax) - The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has reported suppressing the activities of a terrorist group that had planned a series of terrorist attacks in places of mass gathering in the Moscow region.
"As a result of search and operative measures in the Moscow region, the FSB suppressed the activities of a terrorist group plotting a series of terror attacks in places of mass gathering, including on transport and in major Moscow trading venues, using suicide bombers and high-capacity explosive devices," the FSB's public relations center told Interfax on Monday.
"Members of the terrorist group, including the curator of the plotted crime, an emissary of the Islamic State international terrorist group outlawed in Russia, an expert in explosive devices, and two suicide bombers, were identified and detained during a special operation," the FSB said.
"A laboratory manufacturing explosive substances and improvised explosive devices was discovered and eliminated in the Moscow region," the FSB said.
It was established during primary investigative and operative measures, that "the plotted terrorist attacks were organized by Syria-based heads and emissaries of the Islamic State international terrorist group, such as T. Nazarov and A. Shirindzhonov, the head of the ISIL bomber school, who are on international wanted lists," it said.
The terrorist group comprised a Russian citizen and three citizens of Central Asian states, it said.
The necessary investigative and operative measures are currently under way.