Russia holds 4 over IS plot against Moscow transport

Russia's security service on Thursday said it had uncovered an alleged bomb-making laboratory in Moscow as officers detained four suspected Islamic State group members plotting "terror attacks" on public transport. 

The FSB said those held included citizens of Russia and ex-Soviet Central Asia who were "preparing terror attacks with the use of homemade explosives on Moscow's transport infrastructure."

"As a result of searches at the detainees' places of residence a laboratory for making explosives was discovered and a ready-made explosive device," the agency said in a statement. 

The alleged terror cell was directed by IS leadership in Syria and the suspects planned to flee there after the planned attacks to fight for the extremist group, it added. 

The detentions are the latest in a broad security sweep as Russia remains on heightened alert after a suicide attack on the Saint Petersburg metro that killed 15 people in April.  

Authorities have attributed the attack to 22-year-old Kyrgyzstan-born Russian national Akbarjon Djalilov and arrested 11 of his alleged accomplices. 

A lawyer for two brothers Abror and Akram Azimov -- accused of playing key roles in organising the attack -- told Russian news agencies Thursday that they had officially been charged with terrorism. 

The Imam Shamil Battalion, a group suspected of links to Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the bombing, US monitor SITE Intelligence Group said last month.

In a statement by the group cited by SITE, it said the bombing served as a message to Russia and countries engaged in war with Muslims that the "price" of that war was "expensive".

Islamic State jihadists have repeatedly threatened to strike Russia over Moscow's intervention in Syria in support of leader Bashar al-Assad. 

Russia will next month be hosting the Confederations Cup football tournament, a warm-up event for next year's World Cup.  

Source: AFP