MOSCOW, August 9 (RAPSI) – A defendant in a criminal case over attempted terror attack in the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg Yevgeny Yefimov has been sentenced to 5 years in a high security penal colony, RAPSI correspondent reports from the Leningrad District Military Court.

The defendant pleaded guilty to preparation of a suicide bombing terror attack as well as unlawful manufacturing of an explosive device. Yefimov made a pre-trial deal with investigators and the case was reviewed under a special procedure.

In addition to the prison term, Yefimov was fined 100,000 rubles ($1,500).

On June 27, a native of the Ingushetia Republic Aliskhan Esmurziyev was sentenced to 2 years in penal colony settlement and a 50,000-ruble fine ($800) as part of the case. The defendant pleaded guilty to failure to report a crime.

On June 25, another defendant, a native of the Republic of Dagestan Shamil Omargadzhiyev was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison. He was found guilty of failure to report a crime and illegal possession of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. Additionally, he was fined 50,000 rubles.

According to prosecutors, Yefimov decided to commit a terror attack on November 8, 2017. Investigators believe that he planned bombing to happen on December 16 but failed to actualize his plan as he was arrested on December 14.

According to the Federal Security Service (FSB), seven members of the Islamic State terrorist organization (ISIS) banned in Russia were arrested on December 14. They allegedly planned to commit a terrorist attack with the participation of a suicide bomber in one of the monumental cathedral’s in St. Petersburg on December 16.

Investigators found that Yefimov prepared explosives, while his acquaintance Anton Kobets helped him with study of the site. Law enforcement officers believe that the ISIS leaders managed activities of the terrorist from abroad using Telegram messenger.

Weapons, explosives, and extremist literature have been seized during searches at their premises. Moreover, a laboratory for preparing explosive bombs was liquidated.