By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
MOSCOW — Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced Saturday, Oct. 31, that it was taking security measures in response to intelligence supplied by the United States concerning a possible terrorist attack in Moscow, prompting authorities to restrict access to a popular museum and park complex in the Russian capital.
The warning followed an urgent security alert from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow identifying the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve, a historic palace and recreational park in southern Moscow, as the location of a credible threat involving potentially significant casualties.
According to Reuters, the FSB acknowledged receiving intelligence from American authorities through established communication channels and confirmed that Russian security personnel were responding.
The U.S. Embassy identified the potential threat as specific to Saturday, urging Americans and other visitors to avoid the location and exercise caution in crowded areas.
“The U.S. Embassy in Moscow is aware of a credible threat of a mass casualty event TODAY October 31, at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve in Moscow at Dolskaya Ulitsa 1, Moscow, Russia 11569,” the diplomatic mission stated.
“The U.S. government is coordinating with appropriate Russian authorities on a response,” the embassy added.
The alert advised people to avoid the museum complex, remain aware of their surroundings, stay away from crowds and monitor local media for further developments.
American officials also recommended reviewing personal security plans, keeping mobile phones charged and carrying identification.
Russia’s FSB subsequently confirmed that it had been informed of preparations for a possible attack.
“We have received information from U.S. partners regarding plans for a terrorist attack in Moscow. We are taking appropriate action,” the agency said, according to The Moscow Times.
Russian authorities did not identify suspected attackers, disclose the nature of the alleged plot or explain what specific security operations were underway.
The Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve, located in southern Moscow, is a historic imperial estate featuring palaces, gardens, woodland areas, bridges and recreational facilities. It attracts visitors throughout the year, particularly on weekends.
The complex’s popularity raised concerns about the potential consequences of an attack in an area where large numbers of civilians could be gathered.
Following the American warning, Russian authorities temporarily closed the museum grounds and restricted access to the surrounding park.
Russia’s state-run RIA news agency reported the closure, citing law enforcement officials, while the Telegram channel Baza indicated that visitors were being permitted to leave the premises but not enter.
Law enforcement personnel were reportedly deployed to the site.
The Agence France-Presse account of the security response confirmed that the U.S. Embassy had not disclosed who might be planning the attack or provided further information about the suspected perpetrators.
The unusual cooperation between American and Russian security agencies comes amid continuing tensions over the war in Ukraine and broader disagreements between Washington and Moscow.
Despite those disputes, the two countries have maintained limited channels for exchanging intelligence about potential threats to civilian populations.
The latest warning also recalls a previous American intelligence alert issued shortly before one of Russia’s deadliest terrorist attacks in recent years.
In March 2024, the U.S. Embassy warned that extremists were preparing to attack large public gatherings in Moscow, including concerts.
On March 22, 2024, gunmen attacked the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Krasnogorsk, northwest of Moscow, killing 145 people and injuring hundreds more.
The attackers opened fire on concertgoers before setting parts of the building ablaze, causing extensive destruction.
The Islamic State’s Afghanistan-based affiliate, Islamic State Khorasan Province, also known as ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for the massacre.
The attack prompted international condemnation and renewed scrutiny of Russia’s ability to detect and prevent large-scale terrorist operations.
American officials later confirmed that Washington had provided intelligence about the threat before the assault.
Russian authorities initially criticized aspects of the warning, arguing that the information had been too general to identify the perpetrators.
Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, acknowledged that Russian agencies had received information from their American counterparts but questioned whether it had been sufficiently detailed.
The Associated Press subsequently examined the security failures surrounding the Crocus City Hall attack, including questions about the Russian government’s response to advance warnings.
The October 2026 warning differs from the earlier alert in identifying a particular location and date.
American officials specifically named the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve and Oct. 31, allowing Russian authorities to concentrate security resources at the designated site.
However, neither government publicly disclosed the intelligence underlying the assessment or indicated whether investigators had identified suspects.
There was also no immediate official confirmation that an attempted attack had occurred, that explosives or weapons had been discovered or that arrests had been made in connection with the warning.
The Anadolu Agency reported that Russian officials acknowledged the American information and confirmed that protective measures were being implemented.
The embassy’s warning remained focused on immediate public safety, directing Americans to stay away from the museum and avoid large gatherings.
The response also demonstrated that Washington and Moscow continue exchanging certain counterterrorism information despite their strained diplomatic relationship.
Russian security agencies had not announced when the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve would reopen or whether restrictions would continue beyond Saturday.
Authorities also had not publicly identified a group responsible for the suspected plot, leaving the origin and scope of the reported threat unresolved as security personnel continued their response.
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