Seven Extremist Islamists Arrested Suspected of Planning Terrorist Attacks in St. Petersburg

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that it has arrested seven suspected extremist Islamists who intended to carry out bombings in St. Petersburg on Saturday, December 16. In a statement released on Friday, December 15, the FSB indicated that these suspects were detained on Wednesday and Thursday of this week and are believed to have been planning several bombings, including a suicide attack. The statement also mentions that the detainees are suspected of being members of the Islamic State group and received their orders to organize these attacks from outside Russia via the messaging service Telegram. The announcement of thwarting a planned attack in St. Petersburg comes in the wake of a suicide bombing in the city earlier this year that resulted in the deaths of 16 people. At that time, the Russian Investigative Committee identified a 22-year-old Kyrgyz citizen as the perpetrator of that attack. The new FSB statement was issued just days after the agency reported the arrest of three other suspects linked to the Islamic State near Moscow. These three are suspected of planning attacks during the New Year holidays and the presidential election campaign next year in Russia. The FSB periodically announces the discovery and thwarting of terrorist operations, especially ahead of holidays and significant events in Russia, and recently stated its readiness to counter the 'possible return of jihadists' from Syria and Iraq. In this context, Alexander Bortnikov, head of the FSB, described the potential return of 'former members of illegal armed groups from the Middle East' to Russia as a 'serious threat' to the country. The Russian presidential election will be held on March 18 next year, at the end of the current Iranian month of Esfand, and approximately three months after that, Russia will host the FIFA World Cup. The recent readiness of the FSB is also aimed at preventing any terrorist incidents during these two events. Current President Vladimir Putin, who has been in power for 18 years, having served three terms as president and one as prime minister, announced last week his intention to run for re-election next year.