Russian authorities have detained 140 people
suspected of ties to Islamic extremism at a mosque in Moscow.
Russian state media quoted a Russian Federal
Security Service statement as saying those detained Friday included more than
30 citizens of other countries. But the statement did not specify which
nations.
The detentions reportedly involve people suspected
of involvement with extremist groups. Russia's Interfax news agency says the
operation was aimed at identifying people wanted for terrorist and extremist
crimes.
Interfax reports the FSB statement said law
enforcement officials believe the prayer house in southern Moscow where the
detentions occurred was often visited by people who later converted to
radicalism, joined militant groups in the North Caucasus and participated in
terrorist acts in Russia.
Media reports did not say whether any charges have
been filed.
The detentions come after two ethnically Chechen
brothers were identified by U.S. authorities as suspects in the deadly April 15
Boston Marathon bombings.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has used the
bombings in Boston as an opportunity to call for greater cooperation with the
United States in fighting terrorism.
He said Thursday the attack proved that his policy
on the restive North Caucasus region was correct and the West was wrong, as he
put it, in supporting the militants in Chechnya.
The U.S. had urged the Kremlin to seek a political
settlement in Chechnya and provided humanitarian aid to the region during the
separatist war that began there in 1994.
Some information for this report was
provided by AP.
Sources :
http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-detains-140-suspected-islamic-extremists/1650146.html
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