(MENAFN- NewsBytes)
CIA helped Russia foil ISIS terrorist attack on St. Petersburg
18 Dec 2017
A major ISIS attack on St. Petersburg's Kazan cathedral was averted thanks to information provided by the CIA to Russian intelligence agencies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to his American counterpart Donald Trump on the phone and thanked him for the information, according to the Kremlin.
The White House said the "terrorists" captured "could have killed large numbers of people."
Here's more about it.
Russia's FSB arrested 7 ISIS members having weapons, explosives
Arrests
Russia's FSB security agency has said seven members of an ISIS cell were arrested with a large cache of explosives, weapons and extremist writings.
The cell planned to launch a suicide attack on a religious institution to kill a large number of citizens.
It planned to detonate explosives at the Kazan cathedral and other public spaces.
Putin thanks Trump, CIA for timely information
Phone call
On Sunday, Putin told Trump in a phone call that Russian security services would share intelligence on terrorist threats with their American counterparts.
Putin requested Trump to forward his thanks and appreciation to the CIA director and the operatives involved in foiling the attack.
The White House called the development "an example of the positive things that can occur when our countries work together."
Cooperation comes amid splintering ties, Russian election meddling probe
Analysis
The recent development marks a rare example of cooperation between the US and Russia which share splintering relations.
It also comes amid allegations that Russia tried swaying the 2016 presidential elections in Trump's favor.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is leading an investigation into this and further allegations that the Trump team colluded with Russia.
Trump has repeatedly denied the collusion allegations.
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