Seven alleged members of the Islamic State in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg detained last week have been charged with planning terrorist activity, the Interfax news agency reported Tuesday, citing the regional branch of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).
They have also been charged with illegal possession of weapons and explosives, an unidentified spokesperson for the regional branch of the FSB told the news agency.
The group — reportedly preparing "high-profile terrorist attacks" in Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Sverdlovsk region with the use of homemade explosives —was detained in Yekaterinburg on Feb.6.
During a search of one of the detainee's homes, an explosives laboratory was discovered. Law enforcement also found electric detonators, firearms, grenades, components of homemade explosives and extremist literature.
The suspects will remain in custody until April 7.
The Islamic State is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.
