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The Federal Security Service released a statement which was reported across Russian media on Saturday. The service, known by its acronym FSB, said those arrested were from countries in central Asia; it did not specify the country but said arrests were made in cooperation with former Soviet republics of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The FSB said that homemade bombs and firearms were seized in the Saturday arrests and the suspects admitted to having contact with the grotesque terror network. A FSB statement said: “An operation conducted on November 12 in Moscow and St Petersburg resulted in the arrests of 10 terrorists.

GETTY•RT Russian security services have arrested 10 suspected ISIS terrorists

They had a total of four powerful IEDs in their arsenals FSB Spokesperson

“They had a total of four powerful IEDs in their arsenals, which were seized. “The suspects confessed to having contacts with leaders of the terrorist group Islamic State based in the Middle East. “They also identified targets of their attack, accomplices and a support base both in Russia and in other countries.” They added that they had planned a series of gun and bomb attacks in Russia’s two biggest cities, focusing on public places with large gatherings of people.

RT They were plotting bomb and gun attacks in Moscow and St Petersburg

Vladimir Putin’s military action in Syria against ISIS and anti-government militants has amassed criticism from the West. Moscow has defended its actions, which include large-scale airstrikes on multiple targets, as they see it as a way of repelling any potential attack on Russia by nationals who have travelled to join ISIS and one day could return home. Intelligence services have estimated that thousands have travelled from Russia and Iraq to join multiple terrorist organisations in the area. It is believed that most of those militants are from Ferghana Valley, a fertile and densely populated strip of land straddling Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Inside the Russian Army Mon, January 9, 2017 A look inside the powerful Russian Army. Play slideshow REX/Shutterstock 1 of 50 Russian Special Forces: Exercises include taking full-force punches in the chest from their commanding officers without flinching

The US President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he is poised to team up with President Putin to finally while out ISIS. Amid recent tensions between Moscow and the West, Mr Trump has spoken about mending his nation’s frosty relationship with Russia. Mr Putin said: “Russia is ready and wants to restore full relations with the US. We understand this will be difficult, but we are ready to play our part in it.”