SRINAGAR: The US Embassy in Moscow on Saturday issued a security alert warning of a credible threat of a possible mass-casualty incident at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve, a major tourist attraction in the Russian capital, and urged people to avoid the area.
In its advisory, the embassy identified October 31 as the day of the potential threat and specified the location as Dolskaya Ulitsa 1, Moscow, Russia.
“The US Embassy in Moscow is aware of a credible threat of a mass casualty event TODAY October 31, at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve in Moscow,” the embassy said, adding that the US Government was coordinating with the appropriate Russian authorities over a response.
The advisory asked people to keep away from the museum complex, remain vigilant and avoid crowded places.
It also advised those in the Moscow area to keep mobile phones and other battery-powered devices charged, remain aware of their surroundings and review their personal security arrangements.
Established in 1775 as a summer residence for Russia’s Catherine II, the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve has since become a prominent cultural and tourist destination in Moscow.
The museum received more than two million visitors in 2022, according to Moscow Deputy Mayor Natalya Sergunina, who shared the figure in 2023. The surrounding parkland is also widely used by local residents for outdoor activities and dog walking, The Art Newspaper reported.
The security warning comes amid heightened tensions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
On Friday, Ukraine struck an oil refinery in southern Russia, ending a two-week pause in attacks on energy infrastructure that had been brokered by US President Donald Trump between the two countries.
A day earlier, Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine killed at least 27 civilians, The Wall Street Journal reported.
