Russian teen detained after US warning of Moscow park attack plot
Russian authorities say a U.S. tip led to the arrest of a teenager suspected of planning an assault at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve.
US tip triggers detention of teen suspected of Moscow park attack
The Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that a teenager was taken into custody after a warning from the United States helped identify a possible plot to attack the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve, a popular palace and park complex in southern Moscow.
According to Interfax, the suspect, a Russian citizen whose name has not been released, posted TikTok videos showing himself in a balaclava and tactical clothing while holding an object that appeared to be an automatic weapon. One post featured photos taken at the Tsaritsyno site with the caption “I found a place.”
A search of the teen’s home recovered the clothing and accessories seen in the videos. The FSB also reported that the phone contained internet searches related to terrorist attacks and mass killings, as well as a subscription to a neo‑Nazi channel on Telegram.
The U.S. embassy in Moscow issued a security alert on Saturday, describing a “credible threat of a mass casualty event” at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve and urging people to avoid the area. The embassy said the United States was coordinating with Russian authorities on a response.
Following the alert, the park was temporarily closed on Saturday. The FSB thanked the American side for providing the information.
Russia’s Investigative Committee is now considering what legal action to take against the suspect.
The United States has previously warned Russia of potential attacks, including a March 2024 alert that preceded an ISIL‑affiliated assault on a Moscow concert hall that killed more than 140 people. The latest warning comes amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Moscow over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
