St. Petersburg Woman Faces Terrorism Charges for Foiled Attack on Drone Company Employee

A court in St. Petersburg has placed a 24-year-old woman in pre-trial detention on terrorism charges for allegedly attempting to kill a staff member of a Russian drone manufacturing firm.

According to a statement from the St. Petersburg court system, the unnamed woman was apprehended by agents from the Federal Security Service (FSB) last Thursday.

She is accused of attempting to plant an explosive device beneath the vehicle of a departmental head at an undisclosed company. Authorities indicated that she was unable to carry out her plan “due to unforeseen circumstances” and subsequently fled the area.

As reported by the state-run news agency RIA Novosti, citing an unnamed law enforcement official, the individual targeted worked for an IT company that specializes in drone technology.

The woman is said to have confessed to her crime, according to the source.

The Primorsky District Court in St. Petersburg has ordered that she remain in custody until August 18 while awaiting trial on charges of attempted terrorism and unlawful possession of explosives.

Local news outlet Fontanka noted that the hearing occurred last Friday. It has been reported that the woman, who is believed to have been born in Moscow, may have recently changed her name and has been residing in St. Petersburg for at least a year.