ISIS terror cell exposed after it was linked to knife-wielding teenage jihadist shot by police

Dozens of young people, male and female, known to 19-year-old attacker Artur Gadzhiev – who wore a fake suicide belt – were detained in an unannounced sweep by law enforcement in western Siberia, it has been claimed

Russian secret services have exposed an ISIS cell linked to a knife-wielding teenage jihadist who attacked seven people before he was killed by police.

Dozens of young people, male and female, known to 19-year-old attacker Artur Gadzhiev – who wore a fake suicide belt – were detained in an unannounced sweep by law enforcement in western Siberia, it has been claimed.

At least four people including an alleged cell leader have been charged with terrorism offences, according to respected investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta.

In the wake of the shocking knife rampage on August 19, Russian officials played down the incident as terrorism.

But a joint operation by the FSB security service and Investigative Committee – equivalent of the FBI – has now concluded there was an active ISIS “cell” in the major oil region of Khanty-Mansi nudging the Arctic Circle.

A formal announcement is expected soon on the terrorism charges, said the newspaper.

Among those held are natives of Muslim regions in Central Asia and the Caucasus, newly-converted Muslims and those who are not associated with Islam, it was reported.

Gadzhiev calmly sipped lemonade in an outdoor cafe before using a “machete” and axe to attack five men and two women in attacks in Surgut, known as Russia’s oil capital.

He set off a smoke grenade in the city’s Severny shopping centre before causing serious wounds to his seven victims in a Saturday morning massacre.

Later ISIS claimed responsibility and released a posthumous video purporting to show the teenager encouraging others to make attacks on non-Muslims.

People who knew Gadzhiev say they believe the jihadist video did indeed show him.

Despite this, Russian law enforcement initially suggested he was a lone wolf maniac, acting without ISIS support, alluding to “possible psychiatric disorders”.

But now they appear to believe there was a direct link to ISIS.

Gadzhiev was revealed to have worked as a security guard at a grocery shop in Surgut.

Contrary to earlier reports, he did attend a mosque in Surgut where around ten per cent of the city’s 321,000 people are Muslim.

But he stopped going, telling acquaintances but then left saying only “false believers prayed there” and he knew the correct way to worship.

At college, he was expelled after failing nine out of 11 exams.

Source: Mirror