72 pro-terrorist groups shut down: FSB Head

72 organisations in Russia, which funded terrorists, have been shut down in the past year, according to the Head of the country's Federal Security Service (FSB), Nikolay Patrushev.

Nikolay Patrushev made the statement while outlining his department's work in the last year at the Upper Chamber of the Russian Parliament.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) Chief says his department prevented terrorist attacks during the G8 summit in St. Petersburg last year and the Russia-EU summit in Sochi in March.

“The number of terrorists trained abroad and also in Russia is rising. But the terrorist threat in the North Caucasus has receded. We've managed to prevent twice as many terrorist acts last year than in 2005. We are to go ahead with further anti-terrorist measures. We are considering establishing an international anti-terrorist centre in the North Caucasus,” said Mr Patrushev.

Mr Patrushev also commented on the situation with six Russian hostages, kidnapped in Nigeria earlier this month.

The hostages will only be released after negotiations, according to Nikolay Patrushev.