The United States and multiple allied nations have urgently warned their citizens currently in Russia to exercise heightened vigilance and avoid crowded public spaces due to intelligence indicating an imminent terrorist threat targeting Moscow.
US Embassy Warning
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a security alert on Thursday, asserting that it had acquired reliable intelligence regarding extremist factions that are proactively working to execute assaults on sizable assemblies, such as concerts, in the capital city of Russia within 48 hours. American nationals were advised to steer clear of such events.
UK Response
Following the U.S. warning, the British government also relayed the potential threat to its citizens, going a step further by urging them to avoid “all travel to Russia” for the time being.
Wave of Travel Advisories
By Friday, several other countries had joined the U.S. and U.K. in issuing elevated travel advisories related to the alleged Moscow threat. Among the nations cautioning their citizens in Russia were Canada, Sweden, Germany, Latvia, South Korea, and the Czech Republic.
Russian Claims of Foiled Plot
Notably, this flurry of advisories came just hours after Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the disruption of a purported terrorist operation targeting a synagogue in the city.
Details of Alleged Plan
According to the FSB statement, intelligence gathering had uncovered a plot by militants affiliated with an Islamic State group to carry out an armed assault on one of Moscow’s Jewish places of worship. The agency claimed the suspects were “neutralized” after engaging Russian forces during an attempted detention.
Unclear Connections
While the timing aligned, any direct link between the alleged synagogue attack plan and the threat cited by Western embassies remains ambiguous based on the information publicly released.
Ongoing Guidance
It is noteworthy that the U.S. Embassy in Russia has consistently and repeatedly urged American citizens to depart the country since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in late February 2022.
Previous Advisories
Most nations issuing fresh Moscow advisories this week had previously recommended their citizens avoid all non-essential travel to Russia in light of the ongoing Ukraine conflict and deteriorating security environment.
Kremlin Pushback
In response to the rapidly amplifying threat warnings, allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin pushed back by levying allegations that the U.S. and U.K. were potentially planning terror strikes in Russia to be blamed on other parties.
Pro-Russia Disinformation
Prominent pro-Kremlin propagandists and state media voices went so far as to directly accuse Washington and London of orchestrating impending attacks, with one outlet claiming they had “stopped hiding” their involvement. Demands were also made for any specific intelligence to be shared with Moscow to avoid “complicity.”
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