Russia: Security forces eliminate ISIS cell plotting to attack Moscow synagogue

Russian state news outlets announced on Thursday that the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia had foiled an Islamic State cell's attempt to assault a Moscow synagogue.

The RIA news agency cited the report from the FSB, which stated that the group's members had been preparing "to commit a terrorist act against one of the Jewish religious institutions in Moscow".

According to the FSB, an ISIS cell based in Kaluga, southwest of Moscow, had been preparing to shoot worshippers at a synagogue in the capital of Russia.

“While being arrested, the terrorists put up armed resistance to the Russian FSB officers, and as a result were neutralized by return fire,” the FSB said in a statement.

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“Firearms, ammunition, as well as components for the manufacture of an improvised explosive device were found and seized,” the statement added.

The FBI stated that the attackers were "neutralized by return fire" when they opened fire during the attempted arrest.

The FSB released a video that appeared to show two dead bodies inside a residence, along with weapons, ammo, and knives discovered during a search, according to the Zvezda news outlet, which is linked to Russia's army and security establishment.

The number of fatalities in the operation was not disclosed by the FSB.

It mentioned that the fighters belonged to the Islamic State's Afghan branch but did not specify which country they were citizens of.

Russian officials regularly declare that planned attacks by groups suspected of being Islamists have been foiled.

The FSB reported earlier this month that it had killed six alleged ISIS fighters in the southern part of Ingushetia, which is predominantly Muslim.

Under the Israel-Hamas war, tensions between Russia's Muslim and Jewish populations have occasionally erupted. The conflict began when terrorists led by Hamas ravaged southern villages, killing almost 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and kidnapping 253 more to Gaza.

After a jet from Tel Aviv arrived at an airport in Dagestan, another Caucasian country with a majority of Muslims, protesters invaded the facility last October.