Eight people, including a physical education teacher at a Federal Guard Service academy, were detained in Oryol on Tuesday on suspicion of organizing an extremist gang that targeted foreign migrants and “corrupt” police officials, Interfax reported.
None of the suspects were identified, but the report said the teacher, who is 32 and holds the rank of major, was the gang's ringleader.
Explosives and guns, including a pen remade to shoot bullets, were found in his garage, a law enforcement source said.
Investigators believe that the suspects torched a local police precinct in July and planted bombs in a district prosecutor's office in July, leaving leaflets promoting “white supremacy” on the scene, and a cafe frequented by Caucasus natives last Thursday, wounding five customers, Gazeta.ru reported, adding that the suspects have pleaded guilty.
The Federal Guard Service, known by its Russian acronym FSO, is responsible for providing security to the president and other top Russian officials, as well as visiting foreign dignitaries.
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