A plan by suicide bombers to blow themselves up in Moscow has been foiled, according to Russia's main intelligence agency.

The plot involved "a series of terrorist attacks in crowded public places, including on public transport and in major shopping centres in Moscow using suicide bombers and powerful explosive devices," the FSB said.

It was apparently being led by two Soviet-born ringleaders who have been fighting for Islamic State in Syria, named as TM Nazarov and AM Shirindzhonov.

Following a raid at a lab outside Moscow where improvised explosive devices were made, four people were arrested on suspicion of plotting a series of attacks, the FSB said.

They comprised two potential suicide bombers, an explosives expert and a group coordinator.


One is a Russian national while the other three are from central Asia.

It is estimated that more than 4,000 Russian nationals, mostly from predominantly Muslim regions, have fought alongside IS militants in Syria.