Russia's Interior Ministry said it has stepped up security to protect Russians after Islamic State threatened terrorist attacks in the country, Russian news reports said.
The ministry, along with the Federal Security Service (FSB), is conducting investigations and raids aimed at identifying suspected terrorists, and at preventing the recruitment of new members to terrorist groups, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said Tuesday, the RIA Novosti news agency reported Tuesday.
"We have substantial experience in responding to those kinds of challenges and threats," he was quoted as saying.
Islamic State militants released a video earlier this month threatening imminent terror attacks in Russia.
Police in Moscow have increased patrols, including on public transportation, in response to threats "that are coming from various sources," said the capital's police chief, Anatoly Yakunin, the Lenta.ru news website reported.
"We are looking into industrial zones, markets and other locations where there could be foreign citizens, as well as people who present investigative interest, including in connection with extremist activity," Yakunin added, Lenta.ru reported.
