Washington: Hours after death of over 60 people in a mass shooting at concert venue and shopping centre in a Moscow suburb, the White House said that it had warned Russia about a probable terrorist attack earlier this month.
“Earlier this month, the US government had information about a planned terrorist attack in Moscow — potentially targeting large gatherings, to include concerts and Washington shared this information with Russian authorities,” National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson told Reuters.
According to Watson, administration of the US President Joe Biden was complying with a long-standing “duty to warn” policy, in which the United States alerts nations or groups when it receives intelligence of specific threats to kidnap or kill multiple victims.
In his White House briefing last week, John Kirby, NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications, had spoke about notice being put up to all Americans in Moscow to avoid any large gatherings, concerts, shopping malls.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility after gunmen in combat gear opened fire and set off explosives at Crocus City Hall, where people had gathered to witness a concert by Soviet-era rock band ‘Picnic’.
US officials believe the claim of responsibility by the Islamic State to be credible, according to AFP.