London: The British and American embassies in Russia have issued a warning of imminent extremist attacks targeting large gatherings in Moscow, urging citizens to steer clear of events for the next 48 hours.
This alert spans a crucial 48-hour period coinciding with celebrations for International Women’s Day, a significant holiday in Russia. Multiple concerts scheduled in the capital as part of the festivities have raised concerns.
While the specific identity of the extremists involved remains unclear, individuals have been cautioned to steer clear of crowds, stay updated via local media, and remain vigilant of their surroundings.
The US embassy’s statement reads: “The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours.”
Initially issued by the US embassy, the warning was subsequently echoed by the British embassy, amplifying the urgency of the situation.
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Notably, no similar alerts have been issued by Russian state agencies.
According to the independent Russian outlet Important Stories, diplomats have assessed the risk of terrorist attacks as imminent, indicating a high level of confidence in the reliability of the intelligence. This assessment drew comparisons to the accurate US intelligence prediction of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago, despite denials from Russian authorities and experts.
US Ambassador Lynne M. Tracy’s warning, echoed by UK envoy Nigel Casey, was interpreted by prominent Putin propagandist Margarita Simonyan, head of the RT media empire, as an indication of potential terrorist threats.
Simonyan remarked, “The US and British embassies warned of the threat of terrorist attacks on March 8 in Moscow,” reflecting growing concerns about anti-Western sentiments.
Simonyan further urged the embassies to share specific information through intelligence services, suggesting that failure to do so could imply complicity.
However, pro-Putin voices, including the Telegram channel Zhukov Z and the pro-war channel Wargonzo, viewed the embassy warnings with suspicion, attributing them to alleged CIA activities and Ukrainian saboteurs.
Meanwhile, independent outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe highlighted ongoing events in Moscow dedicated to International Women’s Day, including performances by SHAMAN at Crocus City Hall and a major concert at the Russia exhibition at VDNKh.
