US Intelligence Says It Knew ISIS-K Was Planning Terror Attack On Moscow

According to The New York Times, U.S. officials revealed that U.S. Intelligence knew that ISIS-K was planning a terror attack on Moscow.

Update(1950ET): Although there has been much discussion and investigation around the early claims that ISIS claimed responsibility for the terror assault in Moscow, US government officials and media outlets are stating that the Islamic State’s (or ISIS-K) statement is genuine. “A branch of the Islamic State claimed responsibility on Friday for the attack in Moscow that killed at least 40 people and injured about 100 others, and U.S. officials confirmed the claim shortly afterward,” The New York Times writes at the end of the day.

According to the article published in FT, the US foiled India’s terrorist assassination plot on Sikh rebel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

What’s more, US intelligence knew there was to be an imminent attack on Moscow: “The United States collected intelligence in March that Islamic State-Khorasan, known as ISIS-K, the branch of the group based in Afghanistan, had been planning an attack on Moscow, according to officials. ISIS members have been active in Russia, one U.S. official said,” according to more from NYT.

Earlier in the day, the US Embassy in Moscow sent out a warning earlier this month advising all US citizens to avoid public spaces and exercise extreme caution. The Kremlin had requested answers from Washington on this matter. On that early March embassy notification, we previously wrote about it here. The NY Times goes on to quote US authorities, saying “After a period of relative quiet, the Islamic State has been trying to increase its external attacks, according to U.S. counterterrorism officials. Most of those plots in Europe have been thwarted, prompting assessments that the group had diminished capabilities.”

Crucially, Russian official agencies and media have been sluggish to report on the ISIS-K allegations, and at this late hour, state authorities have not named any perpetrators or organizations. Western press stories about the allegations that ISIS-K was responsible have not been reported by Russian media generally, probably because a more thorough and continuous investigation is still underway. There’s a chance that some of the gunmen are still on the loose.

There’s been little confirmed by Russian officials or security services, so speculation is still rampant.

When a gang of heavily armed, unidentified shooters broke into the Crocus City Hall music event, at least forty people were killed. The names of 145 patients in serious condition who were admitted to the hospital have been made public by the Russian Health Ministry. Among them are children.

Below is a video that has surfaced, which shows the gunman entering the music hall after indiscriminately killing victims in the complex’s connected mall.

Update(1735ET): The Amaq news agency reported that the Islamic State (ISIS) has taken credit for the terrorist incident that occurred in Moscow; however, this claim has not been verified.

Update(1635ET): In addition to criticizing Washington for “what it knew” and “when,” Moscow has issued strong statements:

Medvedev threatens Ukraine’s top officials will be ‘destroyed mercilessly as terrorists’ if the ‘Kyiv regime’ is linked to Moscow concert hall attack.

Although the former president and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council are notorious for their frequent use of hawkish and menacing language, the Russian foreign ministry has released the following, which was reported by Reuters:

“On what basis do officials in Washington draw any conclusions in the midst of a tragedy about someone’s innocence?” She added that if Washington had information, it should be shared and that if Washington had no information, it should not be talking in such a way.

Security agencies are reportedly checking out a van in the area as well as other questionable cars, and at least one of the assailants is reportedly in Russian custody. According to an RT report, the mall and concert hall where heavily gunmen previously went on the rampage are still engulfed in flames:

Multiple fire brigades and aircraft have been deployed to put out the blaze at a large mall outside Moscow that was attacked by terrorists on Friday night. The popular shopping center and music venue is located in Krasnogorsk, just northwest of the Russian capital. 

A group of gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall on Friday night, killing at least 40 people, according to the authorities.

The assailants reportedly set the building on fire. Witnesses also said they heard explosions inside the mall.

According to regional emergency services, around 100 people have been evacuated from the underground floor. The rescuers are working to evacuate people from the roof.

Hundreds of emergency responders were battling the fire and searching for any gunmen who might still be at large when there were reports that sections of the complex’s roof had collapsed.

Update(1440ET): According to reports from Russian official media and the regional reporter of The Wall Street Journal, a significant terror attack on Moscow’s largest concert hall has resulted in at least 40 deaths and over 100 injuries.

First footage has surfaced that purports to depict assailants brandishing assault weapons while wearing combat fatigues prowling the mall area of the venue, which is connected to the music hall, and firing at will. According to RT, follow-up explosions are reportedly occurring even amid intense police, security, and emergency reactions.

Watch the video below: The clip is twenty seconds in. Is that a flamethrower?

Just a few days ago, the US Embassy in Moscow issued the following warning, advising any American citizens who are still in the nation to stay away from public spaces and big gatherings. How much did they know?

In an earlier statement, Russia referred to the incident as a “bloody terrorist attack.” Additionally, the White House released the following preliminary evaluation:

• WHITE HOUSE: NO INDICATION AT THIS TIME THAT UKRAINE INVOLVED IN MOSCOW SHOOTING
• MOSCOW CANCELS ALL THE WEEKEND MASS GATHERINGS – MAYOR

Unverified reports suggest that some of the attackers may still be at large.

Watch the video below: Graphic content warning

A significant attack of some sort has just taken place at a concert hall in Moscow, with conflicting firsthand accounts and multiple unverified recordings making the rounds. Videos from the area show a massive fire and plumes of black smoke over the arena, and there may be at least ten victims. The cause of the incident could have been a massive explosion or perhaps a drone attack that crossed international borders, but contradictory accounts suggest that it is most likely a mass shooting. At least three gunmen rushed the music hall dressed in battle gear, according to the breaking Associated Press account, and riot police responded:

Several gunmen in combat fatigues burst into a big concert hall in Moscow on Friday and fired automatic weapons at the crowd, injuring an unspecified number of people, Russian media said.

Russian news reports said that the assailants also used explosives, causing a massive blaze at the Crocus City Hall on the western edge of Moscow. Video posted on social media showed huge plumes of black smoke rising over the building.

Images captured from inside the music hall show smoke and a tumultuous scene of people frantically trying to get out of the building.

Unverified reports claim it took place at Moscow’s largest indoor music hall, Crocus City Hall.

It was obvious that the attack was a massive, well-planned operation or terror incident.

The AP has cited Russia’s official RIA Novosti news agency as saying that multiple attackers opened fire on the crowd in the Moscow musical theater, leaving unidentified casualties in their wake.

The incident occurred during a week of widely coordinated retaliation assaults on Ukraine by Russian aviation forces, as well as fast-intensifying cross-border operations on Russian territory from Ukraine.

There have been reports of armed individuals breaking into the performance hall, but the images also strongly imply a massive explosion.

There is an extensive emergency and security response underway:

MORE THAN 50 AMBULANCE CREWS SENT TO SITE OF SHOOTING NEAR MOSCOW – RIA