Russian police have arrested six members of a banned Islamic group on suspicion of distributing extremist literature and recruiting followers.

Police said Monday the six were members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an organization designated as an international terrorist group by Russia's Supreme Court.

Officials say the group, which aims to establish an Islamic state, was conducting active recruitment work at mosques in the Russian capital, Moscow.

During a search of the suspects' home, police say they found nine grenades, other weapons, ammunition and extremist literature.

Reports say up to 60 members of the banned group were detained in Moscow in recent weeks.