Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had received information from the United States through established partner channels about preparations for a terrorist attack in Moscow.
The FSB said Sunday that it had “verified” the information received from U.S. law enforcement, and “as a result of these operations, a Russian minor was detained,” Russia’s TASS state news agency reported.
It said that an individual “had posted photos on the short-video platform TikTok showing himself wearing tactical gear—including a balaclava, a cap, protective eyewear, and headphones—while holding an object resembling an automatic weapon.”
A subsequent search of his devices revealed a “subscription to a neo-Nazi channel on the messaging app Telegram, and a significant number of search queries concerning past terrorist attacks, mass shootings, and other acts of violence,” TASS reported, citing the FSB.
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow said separately it was “aware of a credible threat of a mass casualty event” on Saturday at Moscow’s Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve and that the U.S. government was coordinating with Russian authorities.
The Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve, a palace museum and park complex south of Moscow, was temporarily closed on Saturday and access to the park was restricted, the RIA news agency reported, citing Russian law enforcement agencies.
Russian tabloid Baza reported that the venue was evacuated toward the end of an organ concert, which was cut short with about ten minutes left in the program. A separate concert dedicated to the folk traditions of the North Caucasus region was subsequently canceled, the outlet reported.
In March 2024, the U.S. Embassy warned that extremists had imminent plans for an attack in Moscow. Days later, gunmen attacked the Crocus City Hall concert venue outside Moscow, killing more than 140 people.
