The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued an urgent warning regarding plans by “extremists” to target large gatherings in the city, specifically highlighting concerts and mass events on Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 9, as potential targets. The warning comes amid growing concerns over security in the region.
This alert follows an operation by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), which successfully thwarted an attack planned by a cell of the Islamic State group known as ISIS-Khorasan.
This cell, noted for its brutality, intended to launch an attack on a synagogue in Moscow, using firearms and explosives. The timely intervention by the FSB prevented potential casualties among synagogue congregants.
While no direct link has been established between the embassy’s alert and the recent ISIS cell bust, the proximity of these two events in time has raised alarm.
The U.S. Embassy’s cautionary statement urges Americans in Moscow to steer clear of crowded areas and to maintain vigilance, reinforcing the broader advisories for U.S. citizens to depart Russia amidst the escalating tensions resulting from the war in Ukraine.