A warning from the US Embassy in Russia that extremists are planning an imminent attack on large gatherings in Moscow has sparked a backlash in the country.
US citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours, said the warning posted on the embassy website on Thursday, urging Americans to avoid crowds, including concerts, at monitor local media reports and be aware of their surroundings.
The embassy regularly encourages all U.S. citizens to leave Russia amid the war in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of the neighboring country in February 2022.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office also updated its advice for foreign travelers to Russia page to include the warning from the US Embassy in Russia on Thursday. The FCDO advises against all travel to Russia, the statement said.
While there was no immediate comment from the Kremlin on the warning, others, including Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Russia’s state-controlled media organization RT, spoke out to social media to spread conspiracy theories about the warning.
Pro-Kremlin Telegram channels and military bloggers also responded negatively to the warning, implying that any attack in Russia would be the fault of the United States or the United Kingdom.
Newsweek contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry by email for comment.
