Russian security forces arrested 12 individuals in Dagestan on suspicion of planning a major terrorist attack, authorities said on Saturday.
The arrests took place as part of an operation by the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Interior Ministry targeting a group linked to a terrorist organization.
Officials stated the suspects were actively preparing a large-scale attack.
During searches of their residences, authorities discovered dangerous materials, including firearms, two homemade explosive devices (IEDs) containing one kilogram of TNT each, bomb-making materials, and 20 bags of ammonium nitrate weighing a total of 1,000 kilograms.
The FSB destroyed the IEDs on-site to eliminate further threats.
Prosecutors accused the suspects of several offenses, including planning a terrorist act as an organized group, forming a terrorist organization, and illegally manufacturing explosives.
The operation follows a similar July case in Kaspiisk, Dagestan, where the FSB arrested three suspects for allegedly planning attacks on law enforcement and a place of worship, seizing an IED, bomb-making materials, knives, and terrorist flags from their homes.