Intelligence agents have foiled 20 terrorist plots in Russia this year, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday, and asked officials to increase their efforts to prevent terrorist attacks.
Russia began carrying out air strikes on Islamic State militants in Syria last month to support Government forces there. The Kremlin has cited curbing terrorism internationally and making sure Russian nationals in the ISIS ranks don’t come back home as the main reasons behind the Russian air strikes.
Speaking at a ceremony at the Kremlin, Putin said in televised comments that the FSB intelligence agency this year had foiled 20 terrorist plots, arrested 560 militants and killed 112 others.
Putin asked the FSB to increase its efforts in preventing terrorist attacks as well as their uncovering the terrorists’ links to international groups.