Russia says thwarted "Paris-style" attacks in major cities

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia's security chief says his agency has tracked down a group working to prepare "Paris-style" attacks in big Russian cities, the Associated Press reports.

Alexander Bortnikov, the head of the Federal Security Service, the top KGB successor agency, said it cracked the group in February in cooperation with Kazakhstan's security service.

He said Thursday, May 19 that the group's members were planning to go to Syria to join the Islamic State group after conducting the terror attacks "under the Paris scenario." Bortnikov didn't say how many suspects have been arrested or give any further details.

Russia has conducted an air campaign in Syria with the declared goal of fighting IS.

The Nov. 13 attacks in Paris left 130 people dead and hundreds wounded. Most of those killed were hostages in the Bataclan concert hall.