MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday phoned President Trump to thank him for a tip from the CIA that thwarted a terrorist attack being planned in St. Petersburg, the Kremlin said.
The call was confirmed by White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders in a tweet.
Putin told Trump that the information provided by the CIA allowed Russian law enforcement agencies to track down and detain a group of suspects that was planning to bomb the centrally located Kazan Cathedral and other crowded parts of Russia’s second-largest city.
Putin asked Trump to pass along his gratitude to the CIA and the American intelligence agents who received the intelligence, the Kremlin said. It said that Putin also told Trump that “if Russian special services obtain any information on terrorist threats against the United States and its citizens, they will definitely and immediately pass it to American counterparts through partner channels.”
It was the two presidents’ second conversation since Thursday, when they spoke following Putin’s annual four-hour televised press conference, during which Putin mentioned the booming U.S. stock market as an example of Trump’s successes. The White House said Trump thanked Putin for remarks he made “acknowledging America’s strong economic performance.”
St. Petersburg’s Kazan Cathedral was reportedly one of the intended targets. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images)
Putin said that he doubted Trump would be able to improve relations between their two countries because the U.S. president was being held back by his political opposition, and allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election were being invented to raise doubts about Trump’s legitimacy.
Russian investigators said last week that the Federal Security Service, or FSB, had detained seven members of what officials identified as Islamic State cells. The suspects had been planning a suicide bombing this weekend in Kazan Cathedral, one of St. Petersrburg’s most recognizable landmarks, located on Nevsky Prospect, its most touristed thoroughfare. The cathedral was built between 1801 and 1811, and, controversially at the time, was designed along the lines of a Roman Catholic basilica.
The suspects had been using the messaging app Telegram to communicate with Islamic State leaders abroad, according to law enforcement agencies.
A video that ran on the state news agency RIA Novosti showed a man identified as Yevgeny Yefimov confessing that he planned to carry out a terrorist attack in the city. Later, Yefimov told a St. Petersburg court that he was planning to target the Kazan Cathedral. Three more people were arrested on Sunday in connection with the alleged planned attack, RIA Novosti reported.
Telegram was fined last month for refusing to provide Russian security forces access to the online conversations of two terror suspects linked to a suicide bombing in April that killed 16 people and injured roughly 100.
President Trump on Friday said that it’s time for Republican Roy Moore to accept Democrat Doug Jones’ win in Tuesday’s Alabama Senate election.
However, Moore has refused to concede so far.
In fact, according to The Hill, he sent an email to his supporters on Friday saying the “battle is NOT OVER,” and requested donations for an “elections integrity fund,” aimed at finding instances of voter fraud.
Inside Alabama election night:
A supporter of democratic U.S. Senator candidate Doug Jones cries as Jones is declared the winner during his election night gathering the Sheraton Hotel on December 12, 2017 in Birmingham, Alabama. Doug Jones defeated his republican challenger Roy Moore to claim Alabama’s U.S. Senate seat that was vacated by attorney general Jeff Sessions.
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Supporters react as results show a tight race between Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore during his election night party in the RSA Activity Center on December 12, 2017 in Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Moore is facing off against Democrat Doug Jones in the special election for the U.S. Senate.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Supporters celebrate after media began to call the election for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Doug Jones, at his election night party in Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. December 12, 2017.
(REUTERS/Marvin Gentry)
Supporters react as results show a tight race between Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore during his election night party in the RSA Activity Center on December 12, 2017 in Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Moore is facing off against Democrat Doug Jones in the special election for the U.S. Senate.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Supporters of democratic U.S. Senator candidate Doug Jones celebrate as Jones is declared the winner during his election night gathering the Sheraton Hotel on December 12, 2017 in Birmingham, Alabama. Doug Jones defeated his republican challenger Roy Moore to claim Alabama’s U.S. Senate seat that was vacated by attorney general Jeff Sessions.
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Supporters react as results show a tight race between Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore during his election night party in the RSA Activity Center on December 12, 2017 in Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Moore is facing off against Democrat Doug Jones in the special election for the U.S. Senate.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Democratic U.S. Senator elect Doug Jones greets supporters during his election night gathering the Sheraton Hotel on December 12, 2017 in Birmingham, Alabama. Doug Jones defeated his republican challenger Roy Moore to claim Alabama’s U.S. Senate seat that was vacated by attorney general Jeff Sessions.
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican senatorial candidate Roy Moore watch for results at an election night party in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 12, 2017. Democrat Doug Jones scored a victory Tuesday in a fiercely contested US Senate race in conservative Alabama, dealing a setback to US President Donald Trump, whose candidate could not overcome damaging sexual misconduct accusations. With 92 percent of precincts reporting, former prosecutor Jones secured 49.5 percent of the vote compared to Roy Moore’s 48.8 percent, CNN and other networks reported.
(JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Supporters react as results show a tight race between Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore during his election night party in the RSA Activity Center on December 12, 2017 in Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Moore is facing off against Democrat Doug Jones in the special election for the U.S. Senate.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Supporters of democratic U.S. Senator candidate Doug Jones celebrate as Jones is declared the winner during his election night gathering the Sheraton Hotel on December 12, 2017 in Birmingham, Alabama. Doug Jones defeated his republican challenger Roy Moore to claim Alabama’s U.S. Senate seat that was vacated by attorney general Jeff Sessions.
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican senatorial candidate Roy Moore hug as they watch results at an election night party in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 12, 2017. Democrat Doug Jones scored a victory Tuesday in a fiercely contested US Senate race in conservative Alabama, dealing a setback to US President Donald Trump, whose candidate could not overcome damaging sexual misconduct accusations. With 92 percent of precincts reporting, former prosecutor Jones secured 49.5 percent of the vote compared to Roy Moore’s 48.8 percent, CNN and other networks reported.
(JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican senatorial candidate Roy Moore wait for results at an election night party in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 12, 2017. Democrat Doug Jones scored a victory Tuesday in a fiercely contested US Senate race in conservative Alabama, dealing a setback to US President Donald Trump, whose candidate could not overcome damaging sexual misconduct accusations. With 92 percent of precincts reporting, former prosecutor Jones secured 49.5 percent of the vote compared to Roy Moore’s 48.8 percent, CNN and other networks reported.
(JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Supporters of democratic U.S. Senator candidate Doug Jones celebrate as Jones is declared the winner during his election night gathering the Sheraton Hotel on December 12, 2017 in Birmingham, Alabama. Doug Jones defeated his republican challenger Roy Moore to claim Alabama’s U.S. Senate seat that was vacated by attorney general Jeff Sessions.
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
A supporter holds up a “Bikers For Trump” sign as he attends Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore’s election night party in Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. December 12, 2017.
(REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman)
A supporter of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore prays after media began to call the election for rival candidate Democrat Doug Jones, at Moore’s election night party in Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. December 12, 2017.
(REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman)
A costumed supporter checks results on her phone at Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore’s election night party in Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. December 12, 2017.
(REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)
A supporter holds a sign during Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Doug Jones’ election night party in Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. December 12, 2017.
(REUTERS/Marvin Gentry)
Supporters of Republican senatorial candidate Roy Moore watch for results at an election night party in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 12, 2017. Democrat Doug Jones scored a victory Tuesday in a fiercely contested US Senate race in conservative Alabama, dealing a setback to US President Donald Trump, whose candidate could not overcome damaging sexual misconduct accusations. With 92 percent of precincts reporting, former prosecutor Jones secured 49.5 percent of the vote compared to Roy Moore’s 48.8 percent, CNN and other networks reported.
(JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Supporters of Republican senatorial candidate Roy Moore hug as they watch results at an election night party in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 12, 2017. Democrat Doug Jones scored a victory Tuesday in a fiercely contested US Senate race in conservative Alabama, dealing a setback to US President Donald Trump, whose candidate could not overcome damaging sexual misconduct accusations. With 92 percent of precincts reporting, former prosecutor Jones secured 49.5 percent of the vote compared to Roy Moore’s 48.8 percent, CNN and other networks reported.
(JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
A supporter wearing a “Bikers For Trump” emblem on his hat attends Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore’s election night party in Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. December 12, 2017.
(REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman)
“Make America Great Again” hats lie on a table at Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore’s election night party in Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. December 12, 2017.
(REUTERS/Carlo Allegri)
Supporters pray during the invocation at Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore’s election night party in Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. December 12, 2017.
(REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman)
Supporters of Republican senatorial candidate Roy Moore wait for polls results at an election night party in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 12, 2017. Alabama voters were casting the last ballots Tuesday in a pivotal US Senate contest between a Republican dogged by accusations he once preyed on teenage girls and a Democrat seeking an upset win in a deeply conservative southern state.
(JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
MONTGOMERY, AL – DECEMBER 12: A woman wears an ‘I Voted’ sticker as she awaits the arrival of Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore for his election night party in the RSA Activity Center on December 12, 2017 in Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Moore is facing off against Democrat Doug Jones in the special election for the U.S. Senate.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Supporters recite the Pledge of Allegiance as they await the arrival of Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore for his election night party in the RSA Activity Center on December 12, 2017 in Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Moore is facing off against Democrat Doug Jones in the special election for the U.S. Senate.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Supporters react as results show a tight race between Republican Senatorial candidate Roy Moore during his election night party in the RSA Activity Center on December 12, 2017 in Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Moore is facing off against Democrat Doug Jones in the special election for the U.S. Senate.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill told the Associated Press even though his office has looked at potential voting irregularities, “we have not discovered any that have been proven factual in nature.”
While speaking with reporters, Trump shared his thoughts on the election, saying Moore “should [concede]…He tried. Always, I want to support the person running. We need the seat…but as far as Moore is concerned, I’d certainly say he should.”
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders also commented on the matter during a press briefing on Thursday.
Sanders said that Trump “likes Doug Jones and looks forward to meeting him in person and hopes that he will come and follow through on his commitment to work with the president on some things that they agree on.”
In regard to whether that amounts to an acknowledgment that the election results are legitimate, Sanders commented, “I think the numbers reflect that and I think the president’s outreach shows that.”
The day Jones was declared the winner of the election, Moore said in a video address to his supporters, “When the vote is this close, it’s not over,” and mentioned that he intended to have the ballots recounted, reports the Huffington Post.
Results from Tuesday show Jones won by a margin of 1.5%.
While narrow, the margin does exceed the state’s threshold for an automatic recount.
St. Petersburg’s Kazan Cathedral was reportedly one of the intended targets. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images)
