Russian security agencies arrest seven Islamic State group suspects planning terror attacks

Security agencies in Russia arrested seven people who were suspected of planning New Year's terror attacks in Moscow on orders from Syria's Islamic State group.

Russia's main domestic security and counter-terrorism agency, the FSB, said on Thursday that its agents arrested the suspects in the North Caucasus province of Dagestan.

The FSB said the suspects were preparing attacks with automatic weapons and explosives in crowded places. Islamist insurgents in Dagestan have mounted frequent attacks on police and officials, and some have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group.

Russia has waged an air campaign in Syria since September 2015 in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad. President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have said that thousands of citizens of Russia and other ex-Sovietnations have joined the Islamic State in Syria. 

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