On April 28, 2025, it became known that 21-year-old Tajik citizen Pakhlavon Kurbonov, suspected of preparing a terrorist act, had been detained in Barnaul. According to the Telegram channel "Baza", Kurbonov, who has a residence permit in Russia, planned to set fire to the Pokrovsky Cathedral on Nikitin Street. The detention took place on April 23, and a criminal case was opened against the suspect under Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Terrorist act"), which provides for up to 20 years in prison. The incident became another in a series of prevented terrorist attacks in Russia, causing concern in society and social networks.

According to Baza, Kurbonov acted on instructions received via instant messengers from a curator associated with the Islamic State (ISIS), a terrorist organization banned in Russia. According to investigators, he intended to set fire to the cathedral using an incendiary mixture in order to cause mass panic and damage the religious site. The Pokrovsky Cathedral, built in 1900, is one of the main Orthodox shrines in the Altai Territory, making it a symbolic target for terrorists. The source specified that Kurbonov purchased components for making Molotov cocktails and conducted reconnaissance of the area around the cathedral.

The arrest was carried out by FSB officers as a result of operational activities. Kurbonov was taken into custody on April 23 after materials confirming the preparation of a terrorist attack were found on him. During a search of his rented apartment in Barnaul, incendiary mixtures, communication devices, and instructions from his curator were seized. According to TASS, the suspect lived in Russia legally with a residence permit obtained in 2023 and worked at a construction site, which allowed him to integrate into the local community.