Russia launches hotline to prevent people from joining IS

A telephone hotline aimed at preventing people from joining the Islamic State (IS) militant group has been launched in Russia.

Russians, who fear that their family members could be under the threat of being recruited by the IS, can address their concerns to the State Civic Chamber by phone or in writing, Xinhua quoted the chamber's press service as saying.

The chamber will review all requests in coordination with professional psychologists, the National Anti-Terrorist Committee of Russia and law enforcement agencies.

According to authorities, some 2,000 Russians were currently fighting for the IS.

The National Anti-Terrorist Committee said police killed eight militants who had sworn allegiance to the IS in the northern Caucasus.

On Saturday, a 26-year-old student from northern Caucasus was detained in Turkey as he was attempting to cross the border to Syria, allegedly to join the IS.

In June, a 19-year-old female Russian student, who was suspected of trying to cross into Syria to joint the IS, was detained on the Turkish-Syrian border.