Schoolboy, 14, ‘stabs 2 Russian nuclear scientists’ in Moscow attack | World | News

A schoolboy, 14, has been arrested in Moscow after a knife attack on two scientists linked to Russia’s feared new nuclear-capable Oreshnik weapons programme — in an incident that has triggered a near-total information blackout by the Kremlin. The teenager is accused of stabbing two senior researchers outside the secretive Polus Research Institute in southwest Moscow.

Bizarrely, he and an accomplice, 18, evidently believed they were on a secret mission ordered by Russian secret services, and would be “personally rewarded” by a grateful Vladimir Putin. The institute develops laser and optoelectronic components used in modern Russian weapons systems, including missile guidance technology, drones and targeting equipment. The victims were 70-year-old defence scientists Vladimir Simakov and Alexander Lobintsov, according to Russian Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, which has links to Moscow’s secret services. Both are believed to have worked on components for advanced weapons systems including the much-publicised “Oreshnik” missile project.

The attack reportedly took place on March 3 at around 4.30pm near the entrance checkpoint of the institute on Vvedenskogo Street, after which Putin’s secret services threw a veil of secrecy over the knifings.

Investigators say the 14-year-old allegedly stabbed the scientists while his accomplice filmed the attack on a phone.

Simakov suffered the most serious injuries, including stab wounds to the neck, chest and shoulder, and was rushed to hospital in serious condition fighting for his life.

Lobintsov managed to fight back using his briefcase, escaping with a “cut to his hand”.

The alleged accomplice — identified as Filipp Karapetyan, 18, a student at Moscow’s elite Financial University — is said to have filmed the assault.

The 14-year-old was formally arrested by Moscow’s Cheryomushkinsky District Court on March 5 and charged with attempted murder of two people acting in a group for mercenary motives, but this went unreported by Russia’s Kremlin-loyal media.

According to investigators cited by Russian outlets, the pair claimed they believed they were carrying out a “secret operation for the Russian intelligence services.”

*** Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ***

They allegedly told their parents they had been promised one million roubles (£9,500) and a “personal reward from Vladimir Putin” if the mission succeeded.

Both teenagers reportedly had pro-government and monarchist content on their social media accounts, according to sources.

But the extraordinary attack has sparked speculation that the young suspects may themselves have been manipulated or recruited by outside actors, possible from Ukrainians secret services.

This is not confirmed by the Russian authorities, who appear gridlocked by the sensitivity of the extraordinary attack on top military scientists.

The entire affair has been shrouded in secrecy, with Russian state media and federal agencies ordered not to report the incident.

Employees at the institute said FSB officers quickly sealed off the area, tightened security and warned staff to avoid discussing the attack.

The top-secret Polus institute — part of the Rostec defence conglomerate — is a key centre for laser guidance systems, rangefinders and targeting sensors used in Russian missiles, tanks and drones.

Its technology is used in weapons including Kornet anti-tank missiles, Krasnopol precision artillery shells and various reconnaissance and strike drones, yet the scientists have been linked to ‘state-of-the-art’ Oreshnik.

The knife attack came as another strange incident emerged involving Russia’s weapons scientists.

According to VChK-OGPU sources, an improvised explosive device was discovered several days earlier in a car park at a residential building on Musa Dzhalil Street.

Investigators believe the bomb may have been intended for a nuclear weapons scientist living in the building, identified only as Alexei S.

The scientist has reportedly worked since 1997 at the secretive VNIIA institute, one of Russia’s leading centres for nuclear weapons development.

Sources say the device had apparently been attached under a car but detached before detonating and fell onto the asphalt, preventing a potential explosion.

Security service agents spent hours quizzing residents as they attempted to determine both the intended target and the vehicle to which the bomb had originally been attached.

Officials have released no public explanation for the device.