Two weeks before Friday’s attack on a large concert hall in Russia on the outskirts of Moscow that has left more than 130 dead, the U.S. embassy sent out a warning to Americans to “avoid large gatherings,” including concerts, because of “imminent plans” for an attack by “extremists.”
“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,” stated the March 7 alert.
The Islamic State group (ISIS) claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack, which the U.S. has confirmed, despite Russian officials trying to point blame at Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the U.S. warnings as “blackmail” just days before the attack.
Just three days before the attack, Putin said, “All this resembles outright blackmail and the intention to intimidate and destabilize our society,” calling the warnings “provocative,” according to Russian news agency TASS.
The State Department confirmed to Fox News that U.S. intelligence had information about a planned terrorist attack in Moscow, which prompted the agency to issue a public advisory to U.S. citizens in Russia.
The U.S. government also shared this information with Russian authorities in accordance with its longstanding “duty to warn” policy.
On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken put out a statement saying, “The United States strongly condemns (Friday’s) deadly terrorist attack in Moscow. We send our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed and all affected by this heinous crime. We condemn terrorism in all its forms and stand in solidarity with the people of Russia in grieving the loss of life from this horrific event.”
Also on Saturday, Putin addressed the nation in a televised broadcast, slamming the massacre as “a bloody, barbaric terrorist act.” He declared Sun., March 24, a day of mourning.
Putin said that additional security measures have been put in place throughout the country following the attack – the deadliest in over 20 years.
“All four direct perpetrators of the terrorist attack, all those who shot and killed people, were found and detained,” Putin said. “They tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them from the Ukrainian side to cross the state border,” suggesting there may have been a Ukrainian link to the bloodbath.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denied any involvement by his nation.