The FSB reported on the detention of three local residents in the city of Kaspiysk in Dagestan in connection with the preparation of terrorist attacks “against law enforcement agencies and an Orthodox church.” The department's press service is quoted by Kommersant.
According to the FSB, the detainees are members of a terrorist organization banned in Russia. During the searches, they found an improvised explosive device, weapons and “instructions for conducting combat operations in urban and forest conditions.”
The case was opened under articles on preparing a terrorist act (Part 1 of Article 30 of the Criminal Code, paragraph «a» of Part 2 of Article 205 of the Criminal Code), organizing a terrorist community (Part 1 of Article 205.4 of the Criminal Code), and illegal manufacture of explosives (Part 3 of Article 223.1 of the Criminal Code). The press release does not say exactly when the arrest took place.
In the video of the interrogation published by the FSB, one of the detainees says on camera: «we came to the conclusion that we need to wage jihad,» «one of the options is to blow up a church, a church on Lenin, at the end of Lenin — opposite the Molot sports hall.»
Late in the evening of July 25, security forces conducted searches in Kaspiysk after a «report of a homemade explosive device in a house,» a TASS source in the security forces reported. RIA Novosti reported that «special measures are being taken» in Kaspiysk, and residents of the house on Lenin Street were evacuated. The Telegram channel «Conscience of Dagestan» claimed that «suspects of involvement in the preparation of terrorist attacks [were] blocked in one of the apartments.»
Astra wrote that the Ministry of Emergency Situations, riot police, military equipment and a crane were on duty in the courtyard. The military equipment was visible in the video and photos published by RIA Novosti. Initially, Telegram channels reported that «unknown persons barricaded themselves in a multi-story building on Lenin Street and threatened to blow up the building.» The Dagestan Interior Ministry denied this information.
The department said that «operational and investigative measures» were carried out in Kaspiysk at «several addresses.» The Interior Ministry did not specify the reason for this. «There are detainees, there is no threat to the civilian population!» the police emphasized. RIA Novosti wrote that «at least two people» were detained.
On July 12, a court in Adygea sent a defendant in a case of preparing a terrorist attack on a church to pretrial detention. The day before, the FSB reported on the prevention of a terrorist attack in Maykop. According to the department, a citizen of one of the Central Asian countries and a supporter of the «Islamic State» planned to kill priests and security guards and set fire to a church.
On June 23, Orthodox churches and synagogues were fired upon in Derbent and Makhachkala, and police officers were attacked. 21 people were killed, including 16 security officers. On the night after the terrorist attack, the National Anti-Terrorism Committee reported the killing of five militants.
Terrorist attack in Dagestan