Two men suspected of planning to carry out an attack in Saint Petersburg during the holiday season have been imprisoned, the Russian security services (FSB) announced on Monday 30 December. The arrest of the two suspects, one of whom had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) organization, was made on Friday based on information provided by "American partners".
The two men are 22 and 23 years old, according to a statement released after a closed hearing, where one of the suspects appeared with bruises on his face. The judge ordered their pre-trial detention during the investigation, opened for "Participation in a terrorist enterprise".
Cooperation with Washington
According to the local information site Fontanka citing a source from the FSB, the two men are said to have planned an attack on a shopping center in downtown Saint Petersburg and a cathedral very popular with tourists. They had sent photos to the IS group to confirm their targets. A video released by the FSB shows the arrest of the two men on Friday, and the search of their apartment where ammunition, knives, electric wires and black clothing are visible.
Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked his American counterpart Donald Trump on Sunday for the information that helped thwart the attack. Although fiercely opposed on many international issues, Moscow and Washington regularly demonstrate their mutual desire to fight terrorism.
In December 2017, an IS attack on the very touristy Notre-Dame-de-Kazan cathedral in Saint Petersburg was thwarted thanks to information transmitted, according to Moscow, by American intelligence. The Kremlin had touted a "Exemplary case" of cooperation.
