People have been warned against attending large gatherings in Moscow
People have been told to avoid concerts in the next 48 hours amid potential ‘extremist attacks’.
The US Embassy in Moscow urged its citizens against attending large gatherings in the Russian capital.
The security alert posted on its website late on Thursday said there is an imminent threat of attacks.
‘The embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts, and US citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours,’ it read.
Britain’s Foreign Office echoed the US alert, sharing it on the Travel Advice page for the country.
It added: ‘Political rallies and demonstrations can take place in St Petersburg and Moscow, across Russia.
People walk towards the Borisovskoye cemetery during the funeral of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny in Moscow, March 1 (Picture: Reuters)
‘Check the local media for latest information. Be vigilant and avoid any political demonstrations or gatherings.
‘The situation remains unpredictable and could escalate without warning.’
Both US and UK citizens were urged to avoid crowds, monitor local media for updates and remain aware of their surroundings.
No further details were provided and it is unclear if the warning is about a group against or pro Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.
It comes just days before the presidential elections are due to take place in Russia from March 15 until March 17.
People also continue to visit and lay flowers and candles at the grave of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, days after his funeral.
There are multiple events scheduled for the next two days in Moscow, including to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Several high-profile football games are due to take place this weekend – between Dinamo Moskva and Akhmat Grozny; Spartak Moscow and Fakel Voronezh; and CSKA Moscow and Rostov FK.
It is unclear if Russian authorities are investigating the threat and the Kremlin is yet to respond to the warning by the US Embassy.
Russian independent outlet Important Stories reported: ‘Diplomats assess the likelihood of terrorist attacks as imminent, that is, they are confident in the reliability of this information.
‘For comparison, in mid-February 2022, the US Embassy assessed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “could be imminent.”
‘On February 21, 2022, US diplomats evacuated their embassy from Kyiv – three days before Russia invaded Ukraine.’
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