Investigators describe teenager's case over attempted rail sabotage in Bryansk

A 17-year-old is in custody on an attempted sabotage charge involving a railway in Bryansk. TASS reported details of the case on October 12, citing Russia's Investigative Committee.

Investigators said the teenager began communicating with a girl online in April. She sent him a link to a website resembling the Gosuslugi public-services portal, after which their correspondence disappeared. A woman then called, claiming to work in personal-data security.

According to investigators, the caller obtained information about the teenager and his family before telling him to carry out assignments supposedly intended to prevent a data leak. He subsequently received instructions from handlers.

The incident described in the statement occurred on May 2. The committee said the teenager travelled to Bryansk and attempted to activate an explosive device on a railway. It did not detonate. Investigators said he had been told he was helping to apprehend criminals.

The teenager has been charged with attempted sabotage. The committee said he admitted guilt and was cooperating with investigators. The published information did not specify when his detention was ordered and did not report a verdict.