Daesh-linked terrorists planning to attack Russia, Europe

Terror cells affiliated with Daesh Takfiri terrorists are planning to carry out attacks in Russia and Europe, a Russian intelligence official says.

Andrey Przhezdomsky, spokesman for the National Anti-Terrorism Committee of Russia, said on Friday that former Iraqi army officers who served under executed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein are training the terrorists commanded by Chechen recruiter Akhmed Chetayev.

“Russian special services have intelligence that certain Daesh groups are preparing terrorist attacks in Russia and European nations,” Przhezdomsky noted, adding, “In particular, a battalion formed mainly from recruits from North Caucasus headed by Akhmed Chetayev, nicknamed One-Handed” is planning the raids.

The groups reportedly include dozens of people born in Russia's southern republics who had earlier gone to Syria to join the ranks of Daesh.

Przhezdomsky also said Russian border guards and security forces are doing their best to stop the flow of terrorists to and from Syria through Turkey. "In 2015, we stopped more than 100 Russian citizens from leaving [Russia] to join the ranks of militants.”

He further noted that Russian intelligence agencies have recently arrested a group of four militants returning from Syria who were planning to conduct a terrorist attack in one of Russia’s major cities.

Moscow says an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 militants hailing former Soviet countries have joined Daesh, which is mainly operating in Syria and Iraq.

Russia has been conducting airstrikes on the positions of Daesh and other militant groups in Syria based on a request by the government in Damascus since September 30 last year. Russian President Vladimir Putin had said before the beginning of the attacks that military action was needed to block the return of Russian nationals fighting alongside the ranks of Daesh in Syria.

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