US Embassy in Moscow Issues Alert Over Threat of 'Extremist' Attacks
War in Ukraine. Follow the latest information in our LIVE COVERAGE
"The embassy is monitoring reports that extremists plan attacks on large gatherings in Moscow, including concerts,"
- stated a two-sentence warning issued by the American facility and the State Department on Thursday.
Threat from extremists?
The Embassy advised Americans to keep away from large crowds for the next 48 hours and reminded them of the travel warning to Russia.
No details were provided about the threat or who the extremists might be.
Threat to American diplomats
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that it had summoned U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy to inform her that American diplomats will be expelled from Russia if - as Moscow maintains - they interfere in Russian internal affairs.
The allegations made by the Foreign Ministry, according to a statement quoted by Reuters, concern "subversive actions" and the dissemination of information related to the presidential elections in Russia, scheduled for March 15-17.
The Russian department stated its intention to thwart such activities, threatening to "expel staff of the United States Embassy who are involved in such activities, as undesirable persons".
The spokeswoman for the American embassy declined to comment on the statement.
