Russian Security Forces Foil Islamic State Attack Plan, Eliminate Four Suspects in Dagestan

Russian officials announced on Wednesday that four individuals believed to be associated with the Islamic State (IS) were killed by security forces while they were preparing for an attack in Dagestan, a southern republic.

Sergei Melikov, the regional leader of Dagestan, reported that the suspects were eliminated during an overnight «anti-terrorist operation» in Makhachkala, the capital of the republic.

He stated that the group had intentions to target a police station in the city of Kaspiisk and confirmed via Telegram that the suspects were “neutralized.”

During the operation, security forces confiscated grenade launchers, improvised explosives, grenades, and automatic firearms, Melikov noted.

While officials did not provide specific information about the suspects, they indicated that there were connections to the banned IS group.

This operation took place almost a year after a deadly assault by gunmen at a concert hall in Moscow, which led to the deaths of 145 individuals. Authorities attributed that attack to Islamic State militants.