Six Russian nationals suspected to have ties to terror group ISIS have been arrested in a sting operation spanning three US states, it has been claimed.
Two ICE sources told The New York Post they arrested the six unnamed individuals, who hail from Tajikistan, over the last week after being contacted by the FBI.
Two others who were part of the same group were also arrested after the multi-agency Join Terrorism Tasks force carried out surveillance on them for “several months”, NBC reports.
The FBI reportedly worked with law enforcement from Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia in a coordinated effort.
Part of the probe involved a wiretap, which revealed one of the now-arrested individuals was discussing bombs, the sources told The Post.
“Remember the Boston Marathon [bombing]? I’m afraid something like that might happen again or worse,” one of the sources said.
The individual who was targeted in the wiretap was previously released by federal authorities at the southern border with a court date scheduled for next year, they said.
But the sources claimed it has since emerged he has potential ties to the terror group.
The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI said in a joint statement: “Over the last few days, ICE agents arrested several non-citizens pursuant to immigration authorities.
“The actions were carried out in close coordination with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces. The individuals arrested are detained in ICE custody pending removal proceedings… The FBI and DHS will continue working around the clock with our partners to identify, investigate, and disrupt potential threats to national security. ”
All the targets had crossed the southern border and no negative information tied to their names came up in initial vetting by federal authorities, Fox News reported.
According to NBC sources, at least two of the men had crossed into the US in the spring of last year, and one had used the CBP One app to enter.
Gunmen stormed the building, shooting concertgoers with machine guns and started a blaze to prevent survivors from fleeing the building.
The attack came after US embassies in Russia had warned the Kremlin over the possibility of an extremist plot against large gatherings.
ISIS has issued repeated threats against high-profile sports events in the months since, including the Champions League and the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament.
Authorities in Europe and America continue to be on high alert for possible attacks at the Paris Olympics, and other major events.
News of the sting operation comes just days after a suspected Russian-Ukrainian terrorist was being quizzed by French police after allegedly triggering an improvised bomb in a Paris airport hotel room – using ‘Mother of Satan’ chemicals favoured by ISIS operatives.
The small blast at Charles de Gaulle led to the arrest of the 26-year-old, who has not been named, but who originally comes from the war-torn Donbas region of Ukraine.
He was badly injured in the explosion but is expected to make a full recovery.
Despite his injuries, the suspect was able to communicate with officers from the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI) – France’s domestic security service.
Anti-terrorism prosecutors were also informed, and a formal investigation was opened into a variety of alleged offences.
