August 3, 2025 — St. Petersburg
Russian authorities have detained a 14-year-old boy of Azerbaijani origin in St. Petersburg on suspicion of committing a terrorist act. According to the press service of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the teenager set fire to a former police outpost on Moskovsky Prospect after allegedly being manipulated through social media.
The incident occurred in a decommissioned police container unit. Surveillance footage captured the teen throwing a Molotov cocktail, causing a fire that damaged the roof of the structure. Thanks to the quick response of a nearby public restroom attendant, the flames were extinguished before causing major damage.
Law enforcement officials say the suspect, a Russian citizen since 2017, was lured into the act after connecting with an unknown girl online. She asked him to share the geolocation of several public places in St. Petersburg, claiming she had recently moved and was unfamiliar with the city. After receiving the information, she deleted the conversation and blocked him.
Shortly afterward, the boy received a call from a man who claimed the data had been used for criminal purposes. The caller allegedly threatened him and promised to clear his name if he followed instructions: to set fire to the abandoned police post. As payment, he was promised 250,000 rubles (over 5,000 Azerbaijani manats), which was never delivered.
Police quickly identified and arrested the teen. During interrogation, he confessed and explained the manipulation scheme. Investigators have opened a criminal case under the article on terrorism. Due to the suspect’s age, the case has been transferred to the Investigative Committee of Russia.
Local outlet Fontanka reports that although the post had been inactive for over five years, the act was caught on street surveillance cameras. Evidence recovered from the scene includes a scorched bottle, burnt cloth, and a chemically stained bottle cap.
The boy has lived in St. Petersburg with his father for over a decade. Authorities are now working to identify the individuals behind the manipulation. The case has reignited concerns about online radicalization and the vulnerability of minors to digital coercion.
