Russian security services arrest teenager who planned ‘terrorist attack’ after US tip

A suspect suspected of planning a terrorist attack against a major museum in Moscow was arrested by Russian authorities after a tip from the United States, the Russian security agency FSB announced on Sunday.

The FSB said information shared with Russia by U.S. law enforcement led to the arrest of the minor Russian citizen. The agency said it was “grateful to the U.S. side for the information provided.”

The arrest came after the US Embassy in Moscow issued a security alert on Saturday, warning that it was “aware of a credible threat of a mass casualty event” at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve in Moscow.

CNN contacted the museum after the alert was issued and was informed that the institution was not aware of any warnings. However, several events planned there were later canceled and security measures were put in place, according to Russian state media.

The anonymous suspect was arrested after posting images on TikTok of himself wearing tactical clothing and an “object resembling an automatic weapon” and sharing photos taken in the Tsaritsyno museum reserve with the caption: “I found a place,” according to the FSB.

The FSB said the teenager subscribed to a neo-Nazi channel on Telegram and made “a significant number of search queries regarding past terrorist acts, mass murders and other acts of violence.” Airsoft weapons were found at the suspect’s home.

It is not uncommon for the United States to share its security warnings with other countries: the State Department has long had a “duty to warn” policy and is obligated to inform American expatriate communities of any threats.

The alert issued Saturday said the U.S. government was “coordinating its response with relevant Russian authorities.”

However, Russia has not always received American warnings gratefully. In March 2024, under the Biden administration, the US Embassy in Moscow warned that ISIS militants were determined to target Russia, specifically saying there were “imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow”, including at concerts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the warning a provocation. Days later, attackers stormed Moscow’s Crocus City Hall and killed more than 140 people. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.

Putin’s reaction was different in 2017, during US President Donald Trump’s first presidency, when the United States warned Moscow of a planned terrorist attack on the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg. According to a Kremlin statement, Putin personally thanked Trump for the information, saying it was enough to locate and arrest the suspects.

The FSB’s latest warning and public statement thanking the United States comes at a time when the Trump administration’s relationship with Russia is under increased scrutiny.

Trump has made significant concessions to Russia over sanctions in recent weeks, drawing criticism from both sides in Washington and driving a wedge between the United States and its Western allies.