Kazakh authorities say they thwarted several acts of terrorism and arrested two adherents of a “destructive religious cult” who had allegedly plotted them.



The arrests were made in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s biggest city, and a court authorized their arrest on February 14, the National Security Committee’s (KNB) press service said on February 18.



While conducting searches of the suspects’ residences, officers found “an improvised explosive device filled with fragmentation-generating objects, components to manufacture it, sharp weapons, and smartphones with pictures and video footage of presumed targets,” according to the KNB statement.



The suspects have been charged with preparing a terrorist act and propaganda of terrorism.



The acts allegedly were to be carried out in Kazakhstan at large public gathering places.



The investigation is still ongoing, the statement said.