Belarusian would-be terrorists confess

MINSK, 10 May (BelTA) – Young people, who have been arrested on charges of preparing to carry out terrorist attacks in Belarus, are giving their confessions, BelTA learned from a news release of the Belarusian TV channel ONT.

According to the source, young people have been arrested and are giving their confessions. They were acquainted with another Belarusian citizen, who is now in Kiev.

This individual was given a mission by the Central Intelligence Office of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and found people to carry out this mission in Belarus. Blurred photos and names of the arrested youngsters have been published earlier today: Valery (23 years), Viktoria (29), Anna (24), and Andrei (29). If convicted, they can face penalties up to capital punishment.

Parcels full of explosives were delivered to Belarus. The explosives were disguised as household appliances. The explosives would have been sufficient for derailing several trains at once or for staging a terrorist attack among people celebrating Victory Day on 9 May. These parcels were supposed to be activated at appropriate time in order to cause casualties and stir up the situation in the country.

The TV channel ONT previously announced it would air an investigation film that relies on KGB materials about the foiled attempts to carry out terrorist attacks in Belarus on 9 May. The film will be aired by the ONT in the evening on 10 May. Chairman of the State Security Committee (KGB) of Belarus Ivan Tertel shared some details with reporters on 9 May.

Ivan Tertel said: “According to our estimates, these events were connected with 9 May. An attempt to stir up the situation. The head of state is aware of these details. We've apprehended a certain number of individuals, who have been getting ready to carry out terrorist attacks. And we know that special services are behind it. These were attempts at organizing terrorist attacks in our territory. And we believe they were timed specifically to Victory Day.”

Ivan Tertel mentioned the importance of vigilance of citizens. The work of any special service cannot be as effective if citizens do not stay vigilant. “Attempts are being made to involve young Belarusians, our university students in the organization of terrorist attacks. Sometimes people fail to understand that their actions border on law violations. But essentially they have already gone nearly as far as hell,” the KGB chief said.