On Thursday, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that it had thwarted a planned terrorist attack on an Orthodox Christian church in Maykop, the capital of the Adygea region in the North Caucasus. The FSB, as reported by state news agency TASS, indicated that the attack was planned by an individual from an unnamed Central Asian country.
According to the FSB, the suspect intended to target a religious institution—specifically, an Orthodox church in Maykop. The plan allegedly involved murdering clergy and security personnel before setting fire to the building.
The North Caucasus region, which has experienced a resurgence of Islamist violence in recent months, was a hotbed of conflict during the 1990s and 2000s due to insurgencies and wars originating in Chechnya. This surge in violence has included attacks on various religious sites and security forces. Last month, simultaneous assaults on churches, synagogues, and police checkpoints resulted in the deaths of 22 individuals.
The recent turmoil also includes a significant attack claimed by the Islamic State in March, which killed 145 people at a concert hall near Moscow. In response, Russia has detained several suspected gunmen and alleged accomplices, primarily from Tajikistan, who are now facing trial.
The FSB stated that the suspect involved in the thwarted Maykop attack was affiliated with a banned international terrorist organization, though it did not disclose the group's identity. Authorities reported the seizure of a flag and other materials related to the organization, along with a knife and components for an incendiary device. The investigation into the planned attack is ongoing.
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