Russia has detained seven alleged ISIS members on suspicion of planning terror attacks in Moscow and St. Petersburg, state media report.
The suspects were detained in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, Interfax news agency reported Monday.
The group, consisting of citizens from Russia and Central Asia, were arrested on suspicion of preparing to attack Moscow and St. Petersburg with improvised explosive devices, Russia's security service FSB said.
They were detained Sunday and the FSB said the leader of the group had arrived from Turkey. Following searches of the detainees homes, security forces discovered a laboratory for the manufacture of improvised explosive devices, explosives, electrodetonators, firearms, grenades, IED components, and extremist literature, the FSB said.
FSB said the group had allegedly planned to travel to Syria to join ISIS after undertaking attacks in Russia.