MOSCOW: (APP) Russia's security service said on Saturday it had detained 10 people with alleged links to Islamic State on suspicion of plotting armed attacks in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
The FSB security service, the successor to the KGB, said it had detained 10 people originating from Central Asia who were "planning to commit a series of high-profile acts of sabotage and terror in Moscow and Saint Petersburg".
It said the suspects, detained in an operation in conjunction with the ex-Soviet Central Asian states of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, had testified to contacts with IS leaders.
It said the group were suspected of plotting to murder civilians in busy public places using automatic weapons and powerful homemade explosive devices.
During raids on Saturday, the FSB said it confiscated four homemade bombs as well as trigger devices, guns, ammunition and communications equipment.
The FSB periodically reports on foiling major attacks on Russia and in annexed Crimea, while giving few details.