Georgian State Security Service detains two on charges of links to Islamic State terrorist organisation

The Georgian State Security Service on Thursday said its professionals had detained two citizens of Georgia on charges of illegal purchase and storage of firearms and ammunition in two locations in Georgia's Black Sea city of Batumi as part of an ongoing terrorism investigation.

The body also said “counter-terrorist measures” were being carried out to identify connections of the detained individuals with the Islamic State terrorist organisation.

Bacha Mgeladze, the Head of the Counterterrorism Centre of the Service, said automatic firearms, pistols, hand grenades, IS flags and “various types of evidence” had been recovered from residences of the detainees.

The crime involves imprisonment for up to 17 years.