MOSCOW, January 29. /TASS/. Russia’s special services have prevented the infiltration of several groups of the Islamic State and averted terrorist attacks in the country, an advisor to the head of the National Anti-Terrorist Committee said on Friday.

"Some time ago a group of blatant gunmen consisting of four people was sent from Syria, their task was to carry out a terrorist attack in one of the cities," Andrey Przhezdomsky told reporters.

The gunmen had arrived in Russia legally and rented a house where they equipped a base and bought components for explosive devices. "The operative control over them was established from the very beginning, they have been detained and await trial," he said.

Intensification of terrorist activity prevented in Russia

In 2015 Russia managed to curb the terrorist activity in all aspects, Andrey Przhezdomsky went on to say. "Thanks to the coordinated efforts of all the counter-terrorism agencies we have prevented the intensification of terrorist activity. Moreover, the satisfactory for us trend towards a decline in all main terrorist activity factors in Russia continued", he said.

"In 2015, terrorist attacks in Russia’s territory were prevented, and the number of terrorist crimes threatening the lives and health of citizens has decreased 2.5 times," the NAC representative said, adding that more than 150 militants, including about 40 gang leaders were neutralized in the course of counter-terrorist operations in Russia last year.

More than 300 former terrorist accomplices persuaded to turn themselves in over last 5 years

More than 300 former terrorist accomplices were persuaded to turn themselves in over the last five years, Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAC) first deputy chairman Yevgeny Ilin said on Friday.

"More than 300 were persuaded to turn themselves in over the last five years. They lay down their arms and surrendered to the police," Ilin said.

He noted that after serving their sentences for committed crimes, they will adapt to peaceful life. Ilin stressed that the main aim is to lower the level of terrorist activities and bring people under the influence of terrorist ideology back to peaceful life.