US Embassy warns of possible mass-casualty attack at Moscow's Tsaritsyno museum reserve

In brief

• The US Embassy in Moscow warned of a credible threat of a mass-casualty event at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve on October 31.
• Russia's FSB said it received information from the US about a planned terrorist attack and is acting on it.
• US citizens were advised to avoid the site and crowded places.

Embassy alert and advice to Americans

The US Embassy in Moscow said on Saturday that it had learned of a credible threat of an event that could cause mass casualties on the same day, October 31, at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve on Dolskaya Street in the Russian capital (Americká ambasáda varovala před chystaným teroristickým útokem v moskevském parku – Novinky.cz) (U.S. Embassy Warns of Potential 'Mass Casualty Event' in Moscow – The Moscow Times). The embassy said Washington was coordinating its response with appropriate Russian authorities (Russland: US-Botschaft in Moskau warnt vor »Zwischenfall mit massenhaften Verlusten« – DER SPIEGEL). American citizens were told to avoid the site and its immediate surroundings, steer clear of crowded places and follow local news (Посольство США попередило про загрозу теракту з масовими жертвами в московському "Царицино" – Espreso) (Загроза теракту з масовими жертвами в Москві: в посольстві США назвали місце можливого нападу – TSN). The embassy also advised them to keep phones charged and carry identity documents.

Russian security service response

The Federal Security Service (FSB) later confirmed that it had received information from the United States through partner channels about preparations for a terrorist attack in Moscow. The agency said it was taking appropriate action, without giving details.

Events planned at the site

Two concerts were scheduled at Tsaritsyno for Saturday evening: an organ concert in the Bread House atrium and a gala concert in the Bazhenov Hall. Museum administrators told the Mash channel they had no information about any threat and that the reserve was operating as usual. Later reports said the museum had been closed, the park was open for exit only and law enforcement officers had arrived on site. Astra reported that the museum's website had stopped working, which it linked to the embassy warning, though the cause was not confirmed.

Background

The warning recalls a 2024 US alert issued before the Crocus City Hall attack on March 22, which left 145 people dead and hundreds wounded.