Putin calls Trump to thank him for CIA tip

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday phoned President Donald Trump to thank him for a tip from the CIA that thwarted a terrorist attack being planned in St. Petersburg.

The unusual call was confirmed by White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Putin told Trump that the information provided by the CIA allowed Russian law enforcement agencies to track down and detain a group of suspects who were planning to bomb the centrally located Kazan Cathedral and other crowded parts of Russia’s second-largest city.

“Based on the information the United States provided, Russian authorities were able to capture the terrorists just prior to an attack that could have killed large numbers of people,” the White House said in its recap of the call. “Both leaders agreed that this serves as an example of the positive things that can occur when our countries work together.”

It was the two presidents’ second conversation since Thursday, when they spoke after Putin’s annual televised news conference, during which the Russian leader mentioned the booming U.S. stock market as an example of Trump’s successes. The White House said Trump thanked Putin for the remarks.

Russian authorities last week detained seven members of what officials identified as Islamic State cells. The suspects, investigators said, had been planning a suicide bombing this past weekend in Kazan Cathedral, a St. Petersburg landmark located on its main thoroughfare.

Russian state television reported the arrests with a video that included an on-camera confession. A man identified as Yevgeny Yefimov said he planned to carry out an attack. Later, Yefimov told a court that he was planning to target the Kazan Cathedral. Three more people were arrested Sunday in connection with the plot, RIA Novosti reported.

Putin asked Trump to pass along his gratitude to CIA Director Mike Pompeo and U.S. intelligence agents, the Kremlin said. It said Putin also told Trump that “if Russian special services obtain any information on terrorist threats against the United States and its citizens, they will definitely and immediately pass it to American counterparts through partner channels.”

The White House said Trump “then called Director Pompeo to congratulate him, his very talented people, and the entire intelligence