The US Embassy in Moscow has issued an imminent warning of a ‘mass casualty event’ at a famous Russian museum.
On Saturday, October 31, the embassy announced that it was ‘aware of a credible threat’ of an event that could cause mass casualties at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve in Moscow.
‘The US government is coordinating with appropriate Russian authorities on a response,’ the alert said.
It advised Americans to avoid the museum for the day and to ‘stay alert’ and ‘avoid crowds.’
Other safety measures included keeping mobile phones charged, carrying proper identification, reviewing personal security plans and monitoring local media for further updates.
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) subsequently confirmed that it had received information from American partners about preparations for a possible terrorist attack in Moscow.
“We have received information from U.S. partners regarding plans for a terrorist attack in Moscow. We are taking appropriate action,” the agency told Russian state media.
Russian media also reported that the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve had been temporarily closed, with access to the surrounding park restricted by law enforcement agencies.
The Tsaritsyno complex was commissioned in 1775 as a summer residence for Empress Catherine the Great. It features historic palaces, gardens, woodland and ponds and remains a popular recreational and tourist destination.