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Belarus Says It Has Dismantled 'Terrorist Sleeper Cells' With Ties To West
Euronews
Belarus Says It Has Dismantled 'Terrorist Sleeper Cells' With Ties To West
By Euronews with AFP
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said "terrorist sleeper cells" linked to the West and allegedly preparing a coup were dismantled on Friday.
"Terrorist sleeper cells were dismantled today," Lukashenko said, cited by his press office.
The authoritarian leader claimed the cells had ties to Germany, Ukraine, the United States, Poland and Lithuania, and plotted to "overthrow the regime by violence."
According to Lukashenko, "a huge number of weapons were pouring into Belarus from Ukraine," which prompted him to order Belarusian border guards to "permanently close the border with Ukraine".
He added that the cells' activities were coordinated via a Telegram channel dubbed "Self-defence regiments of Belarus" which had 2,500 subscribers and belonged to a German citizen.
The cells recently tried to detonate a Russian naval communication centre located in the Belarusian town of Vileika, about 100 kilometres northwest of Minsk, according to the Belarusian leader.
"All the participants in this terrorist act (...) were found within 48 hours and arrested," he said.
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