Russian Report: Man Arrested Over Alleged Plot to Set Fire to Synagogue in Yaroslavl

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the arrest of a man suspected of planning to set fire to a synagogue in the city of Yaroslavl, located northeast of Moscow. According to the agency’s statement, the suspect carried out preliminary surveillance in the area around the synagogue as part of preparations to carry out his plan, before he was arrested by security forces.

According to the FSB statement, the suspect was arrested during an operation by security forces, which was also documented in a video published by media outlets in Russia. A report by the Russian newspaper Izvestia claimed that during the arrest, the suspect was thrown to the ground by security personnel. The forces later searched his home, where they found materials that authorities said were intended for preparing a Molotov cocktail.

In a statement, Russia’s security service said the suspect is "a supporter of an international terrorist organization." It also claimed that he was acting under the direction of an individual in Syria, although authorities did not provide additional details regarding that person’s identity or the nature of the connection between them.