U.S. warned of Krasnogorsk attack, claims ignored by Putin, says White House
25 March 2024 10:38
Americans assert that they had warned the Russians about a potential threat several weeks before the attack in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, but their warnings were allegedly overlooked by the Kremlin. A contrasting narrative is provided by Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador in Washington, who stated that Russia had not received any warnings from the United States.
Many statements made by Russian media or government officials are viewed as propaganda, playing a role in the informational conflict led by the Russian Federation.
The Americans claim to have provided prior warnings, yet Putin allegedly disregarded them, emerged in media reports shortly after the terrorist attack in Krasnogorsk. It was confirmed by the White House that the United States had informed Russia of the impending danger weeks earlier.
At the start of this month, the US government obtained details of a planned terrorist attack in Moscow—targeting potentially large events, including concerts. We relayed this information to the Russian authorities," said National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson.
Watson mentioned that the information was shared as part of the United States' longstanding "duty to warn" policy.
Furthermore, the Americans are convinced that Vladimir Putin himself was directly informed, but he purportedly dismissed the American warnings as "Western blackmail" and an attempt "to intimidate and destabilize" Russian society.
Russian ambassador claims no warnings were given
Conversely, the Russians offer a different account. As cited by polskieradio24, Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador in Washington, stated he received no such information from the Americans.
It's worth noting that on March 8, the State Department issued an alert to its nationals about a potential assault in Moscow, expected to occur within the next 48 hours. "The embassy is paying attention to reports that extremists are planning imminent attacks on large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts," the statement outlined.
In a conversation with Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Antonov also mentioned that Washington and Moscow's cooperation in tackling terrorism has deteriorated, and Moscow isn't to blame.
The Russians also dispute the American stance regarding the instigators of the attack. Kremlin officials accuse Ukraine of orchestrating the horrific strike on the Crocus City Hall concert hall. Yet, Adrienne Watson and the United States Vice President Kamala Harris argue there's no proof of Ukraine's involvement. The strike was claimed by a faction of the so-called Islamic State, which circulated photos purportedly of the attackers.
As a reminder: On March 24, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation announced that the death toll from the terrorist attack in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, had climbed to 137, with 180 people injured.
