KEMEROVO, April 16. /TASS/. Operatives from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) for the Kemerovo Region have detained a 28-year-old man who plotted to set fire to over 10 relay boxes on the Trans-Siberian Railway on instructions from unknown individuals in Ukraine, the FSB press service told reporters.
"In the Kemerovo Region, several acts of sabotage against transport infrastructure were prevented. Active search measures carried out by Russia’s FSB for the Kemerovo Region established that a 28-year-old man was involved in plotting the acts of sabotage, that is, the arson of transport infrastructure facilities in order to undermine the economic security and defense ability of the Russian Federation," it said in a statement.
According to preliminary information, the man was interacting with unknown individuals in Ukraine and agreed to set fire to relay boxes on the Trans-Siberia Railway for money. He was plotting to commit over ten acts of arson. The suspect has a long rap sheet for theft and robbery and is a drug user.
It is specified that two plastic bottles with flammable liquid, tools necessary for arson and a map of the railway segment were found at the suspect’s residence. The investigative department of the FSB for the Kemerovo Region brought charges under Russia’s Criminal Code Article 30, Part 1, and Article 281, Part 1 (attempted sabotage). The suspect has been taken into custody by a court’s decision.