US Claims to Know About Plans to Attack Near Moscow Triggers Russian Suspicions

The US claims to have warned of a planned terrorist attack near Moscow. Russia said it had no information.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Klaim AS Tahu Rencana Serangan di Dekat Moskwa Picu Kecurigaan Rusia

AFP/STRINGER

The Crocus City Hall concert hall building, the site of a bloody attack, in Krasnogorsk, on the western outskirts of Moscow, Russia, on Saturday (23/3/2024). The attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, killed more than 60 people and injured 145 others.

MOSCOW, SATURDAY — More than 60 people were killed and 145 others injured in a bloody attack on a concert near Moscow, Russia, Friday (22/3/2024). Shortly after the attack occurred, The United States issued a statement that it had warned Russia about terrorist plans to carry out the attack.

However, Russia questioned how the US knew about the planned attack. This statement was made by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

US officials, as quoted byThe New York Times, revealed that Washington had issued an open warning about the possibility of an attack on Moscow on March 7, 2024. Apart from being conveyed openly, the official said, the warning was also conveyed privately to Russian officials.

However, it is not yet known how much intelligence information was provided other than information that was openly announced to the public.

Spokesperson for the US National Security Council, Adrienne Watson, Saturday (23/3/2024), stated that President Joe Biden's administration was adhering to the long-standing duty to warn policy. With this policy, the US Government provides a warning to other countries or groups when it receives intelligence information regarding plans to kidnap or murder in large numbers.

"At the beginning of this month, the US Government received information about a potential terrorist attack in Moscow targeting a crowd of people, including a concert. (Washington) has forwarded this information to the Russian authorities," said Watson.

Kompas

At least 60 people were killed and 145 others injured in a bloody attack at a concert near Moscow, Russia, on Friday (22/3/2024). NIIS claimed responsibility for the attack through a statement on the Telegram channel.

However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova questioned how the US could know about it. If they knew such an attack was going to happen, according to Zakharova, the US should immediately share that information with Moscow or better yet, keep silent.

He also questions the United States' confident conclusion that Ukraine was not involved in the attack. White House spokesperson John Kirby previously stated, "There is no indication at this time that Ukraine or Ukrainians were involved."

"The White House said it does not see any signs that Ukraine or Ukrainians were involved in the attack in Moscow," said Zakharova. "On what basis did Washington conclude that someone is innocent in the midst of an ongoing tragedy?"

The Russian news agency, TASS, quoted a White House statement as saying it did not yet know the connection between the attack on Crocus City Hall and the warning released by the US Embassy in Moscow in early March. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the US reaction to this terrorist attack raised questions.

Also read: Bloody Attack on Concert Near Moscow, At Least 60 People Killed

The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia, the replacement agency for the KGB in the Soviet era, declared that more than 60 people died as a result of the terrorist attack. A total of 115 people were taken to the hospital, including 5 children, one of whom is in critical condition. Out of the 110 victims being treated in the hospital, 60 of them suffered serious injuries.

AP/INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE OF RUSSIA

An assault rifle Kalashnikov lay on the ground, Saturday (23/3/2024), as investigators from the Russian Investigative Committee staged a scene after a terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in the western suburbs of Moscow, Russia.

Based on the number of victims, the attack is the worst in Russia since the Beslan school siege incident in 2004. At that time, a militant group held more than 1,000 people hostage, including school children.

There is no indication yet of Indonesian victims

Regarding the attack, through a written statement, the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow has coordinated with local authorities and communicated with the Indonesian community in Russia. Until now, there is no indication of any Indonesian citizens becoming victims.

The Indonesian Embassy in Moscow has also issued an appeal to the Indonesian people to increase alertness and immediately contact the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow's hotline [phone]) if they experience an emergency situation.

Also read: Russian Ghost Bomb Terror

From Beijing, it was reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping sent his condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Xi stated that China opposes all forms of terrorism and strongly condemns terrorist attacks.

According to state television station CCTV, China firmly supports the Russian government's measures to maintain national security and stability.

In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also issued a statement of solidarity with Russia. Through his social media account, he strongly condemned the horrifying terrorist attack.

"India stands in solidarity with the government and people of the Russian Federation in this time of mourning," Modi wrote in X.

SERGEI VEDYASHKIN/MOSCOW NEWS AGENCY VIA AP

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ISIS Khorasan

In a message uploaded to Telegram, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria or ISIS said its personnel attacked on the outskirts of Moscow "killing and injuring hundreds of people and causing extensive damage to the location before returning to base safely."

US intelligence said the group that carried out the attack in Moscow was the Khorasan branch of ISIL or NIIS-K. The group was founded in 2015 by members of the Taliban who were dissatisfied with the condition of the Taliban which was slowly becoming moderate.

In 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin changed the direction of the civil war in Syria by getting involved in the war at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He supported Assad against the opposition and ISIS. "ISIS-K has been specifically targeting Russia for the last two years. In its propaganda, the group often criticizes Putin," said Colin Clarke, an anti-terrorism researcher at the Soufan Center.

AFP/MOSKVA NEWS AGENCY/SERGEI VEDYASHKIN

The Russian National Guard or Russian Rosguardia is standing guard in the area of Crocus City Hall, which was claimed to have been attacked by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group, on the western outskirts of Moscow, Russia, on Saturday (23/3/2024).

Zakharova stated that the tragedy near Moscow was a bloody attack by terrorists that must be strongly condemned throughout the world.

The United States, Europe, and Arab countries as well as former Union Soviet countries have expressed shock and condolences over the terrorist attack near Moscow. The United Nations Security Council condemned the incident and called it a despicable and cowardly terrorist attack.

In Kyiv, Ukraine, Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Mykhailo Podolyak denied accusations of Kyiv's involvement behind the attack. (AFP/REUTERS)