Just over two weeks before a devastating attack struck Crocus City Hall in Moscow, resulting in nearly 150 fatalities, US officials disclosed that they had forewarned Russia about the high-profile venue being a likely target.
These revelations cast doubt on President Vladimir Putin’s assertions that US advisories were too indistinct to preempt the tragedy and his reluctance to attribute the attack to ISIS.
The attack led to the deaths of at least 144 individuals, including children, marking a loss of life. Despite prior warnings from Washington to Moscow about a potential terrorist threat in Moscow, specifics regarding Crocus City Hall were not initially disclosed.
Crocus City Hall (Credits: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha)
Yet, US sources have now indicated that specific information about the concert hall being a target was indeed conveyed to Russia on March 6, emphasizing a global “duty to warn” policy.
This prior warning included a public alert from the US embassy about potential extremist plans targeting large gatherings in Moscow. However, the Kremlin has remained silent on these latest disclosures, with Russian intelligence reiterating previous claims that the US warning lacked the detail necessary for effective preventive action.
Following the attack, Putin quickly pointed fingers at Ukraine without evidence, despite Isis Khorasan, an Isis affiliate, claiming responsibility. US, UK, and French officials believe the Isis-K claims to be credible. Putin later acknowledged Isis’s involvement but continued to insinuate Ukraine’s role despite Ukraine’s denials.
US named Moscow site of terrorist massacre (Credits: RT)
The incident might serve as a pretext for Putin to escalate his military actions against Ukraine amid ongoing accusations against Kyiv for “terrorist” activities within Russia. The Russian defense ministry reported a surge in military enlistments following the attack, with many recruits expressing a desire for vengeance.
Additionally, Iran, a close ally of Russia, had also reportedly warned Moscow about an impending Isis-K attack, further complicating the international intelligence landscape surrounding the tragic event in Moscow.
