US warns Russia about ‘mass casualty event’ plot to attack Moscow

The United States has warned Russian authorities of a potential terror threat, pointing to an imminent “mass casualty event” targeting a landmark museum estate in Moscow.In an urgent security alert issued on Saturday, the US Embassy named the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve as the specific target of the planned attack, advising all American nationals in the Russian capital to avoid the site and stay clear of large crowds. The museum was established in 1775 and after a restoration in the 1980s has remained a popular tourist destination in the city.“The U.S. Embassy in Moscow is aware of a credible threat of a mass casualty event TODAY October 31, at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve in Moscow at Dolskaya Ulitsa 1, Moscow, Russia,” a brief statement on the embassy website said. “The U.S. government is coordinating with appropriate Russian authorities on a response.”Tsaritsyno Palace Museum and Reserve in Moscow was reportedly targeted (AFP/Getty)The embassy notice also advised US citizens in Moscow to remain alert, carry official identification at all times, and ensure mobile phones remain charged.Russia’s domestic security agency, the FSB, confirmed shortly after that it had accepted the warning from US counterparts through established bilateral channels.“We have received information from US partners regarding plans for a terrorist attack in Moscow. We are taking appropriate action,” the agency said in a statement.Following the alert, Russian police and emergency services moved to clear the museum grounds, evacuating staff and visitors during an afternoon concert and shutting the site citing “technical reasons”.Around 50 security officers were dispatched to establish cordons, with patrol vehicles stationed around the perimeter of the former imperial estate.The museum is a popular attraction in the Russian city (AFP/Getty)Lilia Pechenkina, a musician performing at the reserve when the alert was triggered, said evacuation sirens sounded over the public address system just as she was concluding her set.Neither the US Embassy nor Russian security agencies have publicly identified who was suspected of orchestrating the alleged plot, and further specifics surrounding the nature of the threat remain scarce.Security officials offered no details on any potential extremist group, cell, or individual behind the planned attack, leaving the operational motives and origin of the intelligence unclear.Washington previously passed intelligence to Moscow ahead of the March 2024 attack by Islamic State gunmen on the Crocus City Hall concert venue, which left 145 people dead.The latest intelligence sharing points to the warming relationship between US president Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Earlier this month, Trump revealed he had made a deal with Putin to supply Russian diesel to the U.S. in a bid to lower fuel costs.The Kremlin said it was taking “appropriate measures” following the warning (AFP/Getty)“I have just concluded a highly successful discussion with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia, wherein it was agreed that Russia will immediately supply over 300,000 Tons of Diesel Fuel to the American and Global Marketplace, another 500,000 Tons during the month of November, and 1,000,000 Tons immediately thereafter,” Trump announced Friday afternoon on Truth Social.The US leader faced backlash for the move, giving Moscow a financial boost despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. Conversely, Trump’s relationship with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has deteriorated in recent months, with Trump openly calling for him to be replaced. Russia, Ukraine, and the US are scheduled to resume trilateral talks to address the ongoing war, with negotiating teams preparing to travel to Abu Dhabi. Earlier this month, relations were tested by reported disruptions to real-time US intelligence feeds on incoming Russian ballistic missile launches. Ukrainian officials warned the blackout left air defences blind during barrages against critical infrastructure before data-sharing was confirmed restored.Kyiv’s frontline units have also faced severe operational constraints from new connectivity limits on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network. The curbs have disrupted drone reconnaissance and tactical battlefield links, stoking suspicions that the measures are designed to restrict long-range strikes into Russia and force Ukraine toward the negotiating table.