MOSCOW, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Russian police have detained three people suspected of being members of a secret cell plotting terrorist attacks in the Siberian Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous district, the Interior Ministry said Friday.

An investigation found that the cell members held meetings in rented apartments, where they discussed plans for attacking government and law enforcement institutions, as well as planting bombs in crowded places.

Two persons detained on Feb. 15 carried with them a hand grenade and an improvised explosive device. At their apartment, police seized fuses, explosives, bomb components and a complete home-made bomb.

Later, the third suspect was detained carrying with him a handgun and a picture of a local senior police officer, which indicated that an attempt on his life could have been planned.