Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Sunday, 1 November, the detention of a underage Russian citizen suspected of planning an attack at the Tsaritsyno museum-reserve in Moscow. The service thanked the United States for the information it had provided.
A statement from the FSB, quoted by the Interfax agency, says the service, together with the Rosgvardia (National Guard), the Interior Ministry and the Investigative Committee, checked data received from American services about preparations for an attack at Tsaritsyno. The detained person is a minor Russian citizen whose identity has not been disclosed.
US Embassy Warning
On Saturday, 31 October, the US Embassy in Moscow published a security alert on X. It described a credible threat of an event with many fatalities on the same day at Tsaritsyno.
The mission urged people to avoid the site, stay alert and avoid crowds. It added that the US government is coordinating its actions with Russian authorities. According to the „Moscow Times”, Tsaritsyno was evacuated on Saturday during a concert, and security staff told a journalist it had been closed for „technical reasons”. According to the FSB, mass events were cancelled and security around the complex was reinforced.
What the FSB Says About the Detainee
According to the FSB, the teenager posted photos on TikTok wearing tactical clothing and holding an object resembling an automatic rifle. He also added photos from Tsaritsyno with the caption „I found the place”. As CNN reports, citing the FSB, the boy subscribed to a neo-Nazi channel on Telegram and repeatedly searched for information about attacks and mass murders. Airsoft weapons were found in his home. The Investigative Committee is considering further legal steps.
This is the version presented by the Russian side. Independent sources have not confirmed that the boy was actually preparing an attack. It is also unknown whether he is the same person the US warning referred to. The embassy did not say who was behind the threat. No charges or the procedure applied to the minor have been disclosed.
Background: Earlier US Warnings
The United States has warned Russia before. As the „Moscow Times” recalls, a warning was issued ahead of the attack on Crocus City Hall in March 2024. CNN notes that the US has a „duty to warn” policy, which obliges the State Department to inform about threats. The FSB’s public thanks to Washington comes amid heightened attention on the Trump administration’s relations with Russia.
What It Means
For Poles, not much directly changes. However, those planning to stay in Russia should keep in mind the Polish Foreign Ministry’s travel warnings. The case also shows that channels for exchanging information about terrorist threats between the US and Russia still function.
