Russia’s FSB detains 13 members of online community plotting mass killings

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained 13 members of a closed online community who plotted mass killings, the FSB said in a statement, TASS reports.

"Thirteen Russian nationals who plotted to carry out mass killings have been detained in several regions of the country. They planned to use improvised explosive devices, petrol bombs and bladed weapons, and also encouraged other Internet users to commit similar crimes. Eleven of them were members of a closed online community within a social media platform," the statement reads.

Four improvised explosive devices, components for making petrol bombs, as well as hunting, non-lethal and bladed weapons were seized.

"Personal diaries and communication means seized from these people prove that they had plans to commit crimes. The diaries particularly contain bomb-making manuals and blueprints of attacks on educational and law enforcement facilities, as well as on public places," the FSB added.

"The necessary procedural steps and preventive measures will be taken after tests are conducted," the FSB said.

One of the young people detained intended to commit a terrorist act at a school during the September 1 ceremonial line-up, according to a video made public on Friday by the FSB Public Relations Center.

The video footage shows the correspondence of one of the detainees. "I want to commit a terrorist act at school. Will go to a ceremony at school. <...> I want to kill 100 [people]," the young person wrote. He claimed he made a pipe bomb based on a blueprint.

According to the video, the message was written on August 17. The FSB does not specify the region of the intended massacre.

The FSB demonstrated the footage of the detention of some individuals. Judging by the video, they are all underage.