SBU prevents terrorist attack in central Rivne
The State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) thwarted an attempt by the enemy to commit a terrorist attack in Rivne. A resident of Zhytomyr was caught "red-handed" while planting an improvised explosive device (IED) near a cafe in the central park and attempting to flee, the SBU reported on Thursday.
According to the Ukrainian special service, the perpetrator, a drug-addicted resident of Zhytomyr, came to the attention of the enemy while searching for "money for a fix" via Telegram channels. The occupiers subsequently dispatched the recruited agent to Rivne, where he stayed in a rented apartment and manufactured an IED according to instructions from Russian intelligence.
Investigators established that the suspect concealed the explosives in a cooking pot and packed it with nuts and bolts to increase the shrapnel effect. The occupiers planned to detonate the device remotely via a mobile phone attached to the bomb once it was placed. To avoid detection, the individual wore a military uniform while heading to the target site.
During a search, a smartphone containing evidence of coordination with the enemy was seized. SBU investigators have notified the suspect of charges including aiding in the preparation of a terrorist act and the illegal manufacture of explosive devices. The individual is currently in custody and faces up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.