ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has thwarted a planned terrorist attack targeting a senior military officer in St. Petersburg.
Two Russian citizens were detained on suspicion of preparing the attack, which was coordinated by Ukrainian special services, the FSB said Thursday.
The detainees confessed to the crime. A decision is being made on whether to open a criminal case.
The suspects had communicated via the messaging platform Telegram with representatives of Ukrainian intelligence. Acting on instructions from their handler, they retrieved an improvised explosive device from a hiding place, conducted surveillance at the residence of the intended target, and planted a bomb under the officer's vehicle, the FSB said.
FSB officers discovered and defused the device before it could be detonated. ■