Moscow has said it stopped drone attacks by terrorists and prevented nationalists from assaulting British fans during the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Alexander Bortnikov, head of federal security agency known as the FSB, made the first claim at a conference of international security and law enforcement officials.

“Organs of the federal security service took all measures to detect and foil attempts by terrorists to use drones during the preparations and staging of large-scale sporting and political events, first and foremost during the World Cup held in Russia,” Mr Bortnikov said without providing further details.

Russian law enforcement was also able to stop seven gangs of nationalist football hooligans who were planning to attack fans from Britain as well as Poland, Argentina and Senegal, interior minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said at the conference.

He also said special services had uncovered 70 terrorist cells in Russia this year, including 38 cells of Islamic State fighters, and detained 777 terrorists and supporters.