Russia announces the thwarting of a terrorist plot in Moscow... and thanks America

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Sunday the arrest of a minor citizen on charges of planning to launch a terrorist attack on a major museum in the capital, Moscow, after receiving information from the United States. The agency said that the information provided by American law enforcement agencies to Russia led to the arrest of the suspect, expressing its “gratitude to the American side for the information it provided.”

The arrest came after the US Embassy in Moscow issued a security warning on Saturday, indicating that it was “aware of a credible threat of an accident that could result in a large number of casualties” at the Tsaritsyno Museum Complex in Moscow. Following the issuance of the warning, Ofoq News contacted the museum administration, who reported that it was not aware of any warnings.

However, according to official Russian media, several scheduled events were subsequently cancelled, and security measures there were strengthened. The Russian Federal Security Service explained that the suspect - whose identity was not revealed - was arrested after he posted on the “Tik Tok” platform pictures of himself wearing tactical clothing and carrying “an object resembling an automatic weapon,” along with pictures taken in the “Tsaritsyno” museum complex, which he accompanied with the phrase: “I found a place.”

The agency also added that the teenager was a subscriber to a neo-Nazi channel on the Telegram application, and conducted "a large number of searches related to previous terrorist acts, mass killings, and other violent acts." He also said that "airsoft" weapons (guns that mimic real weapons and fire plastic pellets) were found in the suspect's home.

It is common for the United States to share security warnings with other countries; The US State Department follows a well-established policy known as the “Duty to Warn,” under which it is obligated to inform American communities abroad of any potential threats. The warning issued on Saturday indicated that the US government is “coordinating with the relevant Russian authorities regarding the response to this threat.”

However, Russia has not always met American warnings with gratitude. In March 2024, during the administration of US President Joe Biden, the US Embassy in Moscow warned that ISIS members were intent on targeting Russia, specifically noting that there were “imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow,” including concerts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected that warning, describing it as a "provocation." A few days later, attackers stormed the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, killing more than 140 people, and ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.

But Putin's reaction was different in 2017, during President Donald Trump's first term, when the United States warned Moscow of a planned terrorist attack in Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg. A statement issued by the Kremlin revealed that Putin personally thanked Trump for this information, indicating that it was sufficient to locate the suspects and arrest them.

This latest warning, and the subsequent public statement of the Russian Federal Security Service thanking the United States, comes at a time of increasing scrutiny about the nature of the relationship between the Trump administration and Russia. Trump had made major concessions to Russia regarding sanctions in recent weeks, which sparked criticism from both parties in Washington, and caused a rift between the United States and its Western allies.