Russia reportedly thwarted a terrorist attack right before the 2014 Sochi Olympics

In the days leading up to the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Syrian terrorists had plotted to take down an airplane, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov said in an announcement on Monday. Female suicide bombers had planned to smuggle explosives onto the plane in hand cream before they were arrested.

Russia got wind of the plan while working with more than 60 countries to collect intelligence before the Winter Olympics, when they were on high alert for possible attacks.

"There had been major terrorist threats, including a terrorist attack against a plane. The operation was carried out in four countries by five secret services. On the eve of the Olympics, all plotters involved were detained in Austria and in France," Syromolotov told state run media. "The micro-fuse had been brought from Syria. All that was quite real."

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Syromolotov didn't give further details about the purported attack, but used it as an opportunity to ask the West to stay open in their communication with the Kremlin in fighting terrorism.