Russian border guards discovered over 1,400 suspects linked to terrorism in 2017, a high-ranking federal security general told RIA. The Russian Border Service is marking its 100th anniversary on Monday.
“Militants pressured out of conflict zones are trying to use international transport channels to get into Russia… the Border Service and the local security services have worked out, and are constantly perfecting, the practice of cooperating to expose such people among the flow of passengers,” said General Vladimir Kulishov, the head of the Russian Border Service. The Border Service is a subset of the Federal Security Service (FSB), which is also responsible for counter-terrorism in Russia.
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In addition to the 1,400 terrorist-linked suspects, the border guards have found at least 50 foreign citizens trying to cross through Russia to get into an international conflict zone throughout the years. Of them, a total of over 6,500 people with international and federal search warrants have been detained, Kulishov said.
The FSB has thwarted a number of terrorist attacks in Russia in recent years. Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL)-affiliated attackers, in particular, have been trying to get back at Russia for its involvement in beating back the terrorist groups in Syria.
The most recent prevented attack was to target Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov, who is responsible for counter-terrorism. He said 20 terrorists were detained in western Siberia as they were plotting to attack the million-strong Immortal Regiment March, where people honor their ancestors who took part in defeating Nazi Germany during World War Two.
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