Followers of foreign terrorists, natives of Central Asia, were eliminated in Pskov when the authorities tried to detain them for attempting to blow up a railway station, the Public Relations Centre (PRC) of the Russian Federal Security Service said on Thursday.

‘The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation in the Pskov region has suppressed the activity of a cell of a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO) banned in Russia, whose members, citizens of a Central Asian country, were planning to commit a terrorist attack targeting a transport infrastructure facility in the region,’ the CSR said.

According to the security service, they intended to blow up the building of the railway station in Pskov following the instructions of a terrorist emissary abroad.

‘When detained, the terrorists offered armed resistance to the Russian FSB officers and as a result were eliminated by return fire,’ the FSB said.

The FSB noted that in preparation for the attack, members of the terrorist cell conducted reconnaissance of the area, purchased components to make an improvised explosive device and began assembling it, Interfax writes.

‘After the terrorist attack they expected to cross the border and move to one of the countries of the Middle East,’ the FSB added.

The investigative department of the FSB of Russia's Pskov region opened a criminal case on preparation of a terrorist attack.

‘During the search at the place of residence of the radicals, firearms, ammunition, as well as components of an improvised explosive device were found and seized,’ the special service said.