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Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) detained a teenager on Sunday, 1 November, over an alleged plan to attack the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve in southern Moscow, Al Jazeera reported, citing Interfax. The arrest followed a US embassy alert issued the day before that warned of a credible threat of a mass casualty event at the same site.
The US embassy in Moscow published its security alert on Saturday, 31 October. It said Washington was coordinating with Russian authorities on a response and urged people to avoid the area, stay alert and stay away from crowds, according to Euronews. The museum and park grounds closed that evening "for technical reasons," and visitors were evacuated. The site reopened on 1 November.
The FSB did not name the suspect, a Russian citizen who is a minor. It said the teenager posted TikTok photos wearing a balaclava and tactical clothing while holding an object that looked like an automatic weapon. Other photos showed the reserve, captioned "I found a place."
According to the FSB, a search of the home turned up the clothing seen in the photos. The agency also said the suspect's phone showed searches about terrorist attacks and mass killings, along with a subscription to a neo-Nazi Telegram channel. CNN reported that the FSB also said airsoft weapons were found at the address.
The FSB credited the US for the lead. "We are grateful to the American side for providing the information," the agency said. Russia's Investigative Committee is now considering what legal action to take. No charges have been announced.
The museum told CNN it was not aware of any warnings. Russian state media reported that several scheduled events were canceled and that security measures were added. Euronews reported that the German embassy in Russia reportedly issued a similar warning.
The exchange recalls March 2024, when the US embassy in Moscow warned of plans to target large gatherings in the city. Days later, an Islamic State-linked attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue killed more than 140 people. Russian President Vladimir Putin had called the Western warnings provocative. CNN also noted that the US warned Moscow about a planned attack on the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg in 2017.
The latest case comes amid long-running tension between Washington and Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
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