Russian security forces have detained 15 suspected Islamist militants in Moscow after confiscating improvised bombs and other weapons in a raid on an apartment, the Interior Ministry said.

It said in a statement that the detainees were members of a group called Takfir Wal-Hijra, which was banned in Russia as a religious extremist organisation in 2010, and were led by a man who had come to Moscow after studying in Arab states.

Russia has tightened security in the run-up to the Winter Olympics, which it will hold in the southern resort city of Sochi in February, and President Vladimir Putin has staked a lot of personal prestige on organising a successful Games.

Fourteen people were detained in the raid yesterday and the 15th was detained separately, the Interior Ministry said.

It accused the group of trying to recruit people into radical Islam, and members were suspected of carrying out crimes to finance their activities.

During the raid, three homemade bombs and components of explosive devices were found, as well as grenades, guns that fire plastic bullets and extremist literature, it said.

Arrests of alleged militants are relatively rare in the Russian capital.