Kremlin spokesmen have accused Britain and the US of “complicity” if terrorists attack Moscow after embassies warned of an “imminent attack” in the Russian capital.
The embassies said “extremists” were planning to attack large gatherings and warned citizens to avoid events over the next two days.
It was not clear who thought to be plotting the attacks, but people have been told to avoid crowds, monitor local media for updates and be aware of the surrounding area – while the British and US embassies also advised their nationals not to travel to Russia.
The warnings cover a 48-hour period, including festivities associated with International Women’s Day, a major holiday in Russia.
In connection with the celebration, several concerts will take place in the capital.
While the Kremlin has yet to comment on the warnings, other influential voices in Russia – including Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Russia’s state-run news channel RT – expressed anger at the intervention.
Kremlin spokespeople have accused Britain and the US of ‘complicity’ if terrorists attack Moscow after embassies warned of an ‘imminent attack’ in the Russian capital (pictured, file photo)
Although the Kremlin has not yet commented on the warnings, other influential voices in Russia – including Margarita Simonyan (pictured, file photo), the editor-in-chief of Russia’s state-run news channel RT – expressed anger at the intervention.
“The American and British embassies warned of the threat of terrorist attacks on March 8 in Moscow,” she said, according to the Telegram channel of ASTRA – an independent Russian journalism project.
“(US citizens) are asked to avoid large gatherings for 48 hours… If you have specific information, it should be passed through the intelligence community.
I hope you did. And if not, there is complicity,” Simonyan – a close ally of Putin and a leading Kremlin propagandist – added.
Other pro-Putin Telegram channels also started spreading conspiracy theories in response to the embassies’ warnings.
“The US and Britain have even stopped hiding that they are behind the terrorist attacks in Russia,” wrote one person – RIA Katyusha.
Russian reporter and VGTRK journalist Andrey Rudenko said on his Telegram channel: “The US Embassy has stated that terrorist attacks in Moscow are possible in the next two days; a similar warning was also issued by the British Foreign Office.
‘We understand very well who could be the mastermind behind terrorist attacks. And from these idiots, a warning about this looks like blackmail or a banal threat.’
The US Embassy said on Thursday it was “monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts, and US citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings for the next 48 hours.”
The first warning to US citizens was shared by the British Embassy and published by the Foreign Office travel advice page for Russia.
The FCDO is currently warning of security incidents ‘such as drone attacks’ in some parts of the country and is advising British nationals to ‘consider leaving Russia’.
It comes just hours after Russia’s security service, the FSB, claimed to have foiled an ISIS plot to massacre Jews at a synagogue near the capital.
A large crowd of people gathers on Red Square in Moscow on September 30, 2022
Footage purporting to show agents uncovering a cache of weapons as they foil an ISIS plot
The Russian independent medium Important Stories reported: ‘Diplomats assess the likelihood of terrorist attacks as imminent, that is, they have confidence in the reliability of this information.
‘By comparison, in mid-February 2022, the US embassy assessed the Russian invasion of Ukraine as ‘imminent’.
US Ambassador Lynne M. Tracy’s warning, echoed by British envoy Nigel Casey, was interpreted by leading Putin propagandist Margarita Simonyan – head of the RT media empire – as a warning of “terrorist attacks.”
“The US and British embassies warned of the threat of terrorist attacks in Moscow on March 8,” she said.
The anti-Western Simonyan urged the embassies: “If you have specific information, it should be passed through the intelligence services.
‘I hope you did. And if not, then there is complicity.’
There had been no similar warnings from Russian government authorities.
Pro-Putin Telegram channel Zhukov Z said: “This all sounds like a threat, because all terrorist attacks in Russia are directly or indirectly related to the activities of the CIA and their accomplices.”
Another pro-war broadcaster Wargonzo said: ‘The message was only posted on the English version of the (American) site the day before.
‘It was ambiguous and many media interpreted it as a warning about the threat of terrorist attacks.
“It is really unclear who the American embassy is warning about, patriotic Russians or their accusations: Ukrainian saboteurs.”
Independent outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe said: ‘Events dedicated to International Women’s Day will take place today in Moscow.
“Singer SHAMAN will perform at Crocus City Hall, and there will also be a major concert at the Russia Exhibition in VDNKh.”
The British FCDO currently advises against all travel to Russia, citing the war in Ukraine and the high threat of terrorism.
“Terrorists are very likely to attempt to carry out attacks in Russia,” the ministry warns, suggesting indiscriminate attacks could target popular tourist sites; seasonal, festive or religious events in public places; areas not controlled by security; or transport networks.
“Terrorist attacks in Moscow and St. Petersburg have claimed large numbers of victims,” the report claims.
‘Russian aviation has also been targeted. Security forces have disrupted several plots in major Russian cities.”
The FCDO also says there is ‘a significant threat of a terrorist attack affecting British interests and British nationals worldwide, including from groups and individuals who consider British and British nationals as targets’ and advises vigilance.
British nationals in Russia who require consular assistance are advised to contact the 24-hour helpline +7 495 956 7200 and select the option for consular services for British nationals.
At the start of the war, estimates of the number of British nationals in Russia varied widely, from 6,400 to more than 22,000.
Dr Kevin Riehlemteacher at Brunel Center for Intelligence and Security Studiessaid: ‘The public announcement on March 8, 2024 by the US and British embassies in Moscow of a planned terrorist operation in Russia likely has both a security and counter-propaganda objective.
“The threat was announced publicly and not shared from government to government (at least to our knowledge). That shows where the level of dialogue is.
“In addition to being a warning of terrorist threats, the announcement likely sends a message to the Russian people that Western governments are not their enemy, contrary to what the Russian government repeats time and time again.”
Kevin teaches security and intelligence studies and has worked in intelligence and counterintelligence for more than thirty years at the Defense Intelligence Agency, U.S. European Command, and the FBI.
He has written dozens of books about Russian intelligence services and defectors.
The FSB stated that the terrorists offered armed resistance during the arrest and as a result were neutralized by return fire.
Dead terrorists were seen on the floor of their hideout after FSB officers entered and foiled alleged massacre plans
The US and British embassies in Moscow have warned that extremists plan to attack large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts, in the near future.
News of a terror warning came just hours after Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), successor to its infamous KGB agency, claimed to have foiled an ISIS plot to massacre Jews in a Moscow synagogue.
It is unclear whether the events are related.
According to the FSB, a large cache of weapons and bomb parts was found during an attack on an Islamic State cell in Kaluga, southwest of the capital.
Russian state media reported that militants had prepared to shoot Jewish worshipers at a synagogue in the capital before security officials stormed the premises and shot them.
“While being arrested, the terrorists offered armed resistance to the Russian FSB officers, and as a result were neutralized by return fire,” Russia’s state news agency TASS quoted the security service as saying in a statement.