Xavier Colás

Updated Friday, March 22, 2024-9:18 p.m.

  • Russia Dozens dead in terrorist attack at concert hall near Moscow

  • Album Images of the attack on a concert hall near Moscow

The embassies of

the United States and the United Kingdom in Russia

had already issued urgent warnings in early March about the possibility of a

terrorist attack in Moscow

in the next 24 to 48 hours. The US embassy urged US citizens to stay

away from

mass gatherings.



A week and a half later, on March 19, Putin

dismissed Western warnings

about the possibility of terrorist attacks in Russia as "absolute blackmail."



The Russian president denounced the intention to intimidate and destabilize Russian society. It was in the meeting with the leadership of the FSB security service that Putin

referred to "the recent provocations by various

Western official structures about the possibility of terrorist attacks in Russia." In any case, the president instructed the FSB to seriously strengthen anti-terrorist activity in all areas.



A day before the Western warning, the FSB announced that its agents had

thwarted an Islamic State terrorist attack

on a Moscow synagogue. Russia's state news agency TASS said FSB agents had killed several members who were planning the attack, citing the FSB press office.

It is unclear whether the incident is related

to the US warning.

This Friday, several armed men opened fire on concertgoers at the

Crocus City Hall

in

Krasnogorsk, near Moscow

, and then started a fire inside the building. The concert hall is located in a shopping center next to other businesses such as hotels and restaurants. At least

40 people have died and a hundred more have been injured.

The United States assured this Friday that there is no indication that

Ukraine participated in the "horrible" attack,

Efe reports.

In a press conference, one of the White House spokespersons, John Kirby, explained that the United States is still gathering information about the event, but said that "at this time there is no

indication that Ukraine or Ukrainian citizens

are involved." .

For his part, former Russian president Dmiti Medvedev stated that Russia

will "destroy" the Ukrainian leaders

if it is proven that they are involved in the attack.

"If it is established that they are terrorists of the Kiev regime (...), they will be

located and destroyed mercilessly

, as terrorists. Including the leaders of the State that committed such an atrocity," Medvedev, number two of the Security Council, stated on Telegram. Russian security