Russia detains 140 in raid targeting suspected extremists

GlobalPost

Russian authorities detained 140 people, more than 30 of them foreign nationals, in a raid Friday targeting suspected members of Islamic extremist groups.

"As the result of investigative activities at the house No. 8 at the Danilovskaya embankment, employees of law enforcement bodies detained 140 people of whom more than 30 are foreign nationals," the Moscow branch of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement.

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The operation took place at a Dar Ul-Arkam place of worship, located in southern Moscow, and was conducted by Russia's Federal Security Service and police.

Suspected radicals have reportedly visited the site in the past, including some from the North Caucasus region, which includes Chechnya.

The raid comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama promised to create better cooperation between their special services following the Boston Marathon bombings that were carried out by two brothers originally from Chechnya.

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