Russian media reports say that in the Moscow region's Reutov, law enforcement prevented an attack on one of the schools: a 16-year-old native of Tajikistan, who was studying at the same school, was allegedly planning a terrorist attack.
The teenager was detained, and three knives were seized during a search.
According to preliminary information, the teenager, originally from Tajikistan, joined a closed group on a social media platform that is linked to the terrorist organization “Columbine” (banned in Russia), mk.ru reports.
According to mk.ru, the group had repeatedly discussed potential attacks on educational institutions.
No further details about the incident have been provided so far.
It is noted that criminal proceedings have been instituted against the student under the article "Participation in the activities of a terrorist organization."
The minor could face up to 10 years of imprisonment.
The teenager studied at the same school and was residing in the Moscow region without registration. How he was accepted into the school is a matter that will likely be investigated by the Federal Security Service (FSB), media outlets report.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law aimed at banning "online Columbine communities" that allegedly encourage violence by schoolchildren on December 18, 2018.
The law said it targets information that encourages children to do things that could pose a threat to the health or lives of other people and is aimed at "protecting children from information damaging to their health and development."
On February 2, 20219, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation declared the Columbine community, which draws fetishized inspiration from a 1999 school shooting in the United States, as terrorists.
The hearing was held behind closed doors because “the case contained information classified as state secrets”.
