Russia’s Federal Security Service said it detained a teenager suspected of planning an attack at Moscow’s Tsaritsyno complex after receiving information from U.S. authorities. (Foto: Instagram)
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Sunday, Nov. 1, that it had detained a Russian teenager suspected of planning a terrorist attack at the Tsaritsyno complex in Moscow. The detention followed information from the United States about a possible violent incident at the site.
The FSB said the warning was passed through communication channels between the two countries on Saturday, Oct. 31. After reviewing the U.S. intelligence, Russian security services found TikTok posts by the teenager that allegedly contained threats involving Tsaritsyno Park and its museum. The operation was carried out jointly with the Russian National Guard, the Interior Ministry and the Investigative Committee, the FSB said.
According to Russian authorities, the teenager posted photographs showing him in tactical clothing, a balaclava, a cap, sunglasses and headphones. One image showed him holding an object resembling an automatic weapon. Authorities also found photographs taken at the Tsaritsyno Museum with the caption, “I found a place.”
During a search of the teenager’s home, officers seized clothing and accessories that the FSB said matched items shown in the posts. The agency said the teenager’s electronic devices contained searches related to past terrorist attacks, mass killings and other episodes of violence. The FSB also said he followed a neo-Nazi channel on Telegram. Investigators are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the threats and whether an attack was being prepared.
Before the detention, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow had issued a warning about what it described as a credible threat of an attack at Tsaritsyno Park, with the possibility of multiple victims. The embassy said it was in contact with Russian authorities as it monitored the situation. The complex, in southern Moscow, includes a palace, a museum and a large park.
Access to the park was temporarily restricted after the warning, according to Russian news agency RIA. The FSB said cultural events and public activities at the museum and park were canceled and security measures were increased during the investigation. The Russian security service thanked U.S. authorities for sharing information that enabled preventive measures.
