US warns of mass-casualty threat at Moscow museum as Russia responds

• The US Embassy in Moscow issued a security alert on Oct. 31 warning of a credible threat of a mass-casualty event at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve.
• The warning identified the museum's precise address in southern Moscow and urged US citizens to avoid the site and surrounding area.
• The embassy said Washington was coordinating with Russian authorities in response to the threat.
• Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) confirmed it was taking "appropriate measures" after receiving information from US counterparts.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Saturday it was taking "appropriate" measures after the US Embassy in Moscow warned of a credible threat of a mass-casualty attack at a popular museum complex in the Russian capital.

The warning, issued on Oct. 31, identified the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve in southern Moscow as a potential target and urged US citizens to avoid the site and surrounding area throughout the day.

The embassy said it was aware of a credible threat of a mass-casualty event at the museum, located at Dolskaya Ulitsa 1, adding that the US government was coordinating with Russian authorities over a response.

The alert is unusual in its specificity, identifying a named public attraction, a precise address and a same-day threat of mass casualties. It also comes amid heightened security concerns in Russia, where authorities have repeatedly warned of potential attacks and tightened security around public spaces.

The FSB confirmed that it had received information from its US counterparts about preparations for a terrorist attack in Moscow, telling the state-run TASS news agency that it was taking "appropriate measures." It did not provide further details about the suspected plot or identify any potential perpetrators.

The warning drew particular attention because of its specificity and the history of a previous US warning ahead of one of Russia's deadliest terrorist attacks in recent years.

On March 7, 2024, the US Embassy in Moscow warned that extremists had imminent plans to target large gatherings in the Russian capital, advising Americans to avoid concerts and other crowded venues. The warning preceded the March 22 attack on Crocus City Hall, a concert venue near Moscow, where gunmen killed 145 people and wounded hundreds.

Following that attack, then-FSB Director Sergei Naryshkin acknowledged that Russian intelligence had received information from US agencies but said it had been too general to identify those responsible.

The latest warning has also prompted questions about the security situation at Tsaritsyno itself. Russian media outlet News.ru reported that the museum complex said it had no information about the alleged threat and was continuing to operate normally, despite the US advisory.

Tsaritsyno is a historic palace and park complex in southern Moscow, originally commissioned by Empress Catherine II in 1775 as a royal residence. It is now a major cultural and recreational destination in the capital.

The US Embassy urged American citizens to avoid the museum and surrounding area, remain alert, keep their phones charged, carry identification and monitor local media for further developments. It also advised US nationals to enrol in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for security updates.