DFA monitoring situation in Moscow after report of 'imminent' terror threat there

The US Embassy issued its warning just hours after Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had foiled a planned shooting at a synagogue in Moscow by a cell from the Afghan arm of the Islamic State terror group. File Picture: AP

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is "monitoring" the situation in Moscow following reports of an imminent terror attack in the Russian capital. 

Both the UK Foreign Office and the US Embassy in Moscow issued warnings to their citizens over intelligence reports that large gatherings in Moscow may be targeted by “extremists” over the next 48 hours.

Late on Thursday, the US Embassy advised its citizens in the country to “avoid crowds, monitor local media for updates, and be aware of your surroundings” for the next two days. It said that large gatherings such as concerts may be a "target".

The UK Foreign Office also issued a similar warning.

Moscow, Russia: The Embassy is monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours. As a reminder, our Travel Advisory for Russia is… pic.twitter.com/J5oLgOvFY4

— Travel - State Dept (@TravelGov) March 7, 2024

A spokesperson told the Irish Examiner that the DFA is “aware of the reports of an increased threat to large gatherings in Moscow and are monitoring the situation”.

“Our advice to citizens on large gatherings continues to be that Irish citizens in Russia should be vigilant about their own safety and avoid mass gatherings, including protests or demonstrations.” 

The spokesperson also said that the DFA “strongly advises against all travel to the Russian Federation." They said Irish citizens who are in Russia are advised “to carefully consider the necessity of their continued stay in Russia”.

More generally, the DFA’s website advises that, due to staff reductions following diplomatic expulsions ordered by the Russian government, its embassy in Moscow has “significantly fewer resources to assist in a crisis". 

It says that Irish citizens should not "rely on the possibility of an organised evacuation occurring in the event of a crisis, and should instead have their own plans for departure in place".

Irish citizens in Russia are also advised to be “vigilant about their own safety and avoid mass gatherings, including protests or demonstrations” and be aware that new laws affecting media freedom of expression in the country can be used by Russian authorities to “impose severe and arbitrary sentences of up to 15 years in prison". 

"Irish citizens should be mindful this includes posting or sharing banned content on social media," advice on the DFA website reads.

The DFA has continually advised against travel to Russia since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

The US Embassy issued its warning just hours after Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said it had foiled a planned shooting at a Moscow synagogue by a cell from the Afghan arm of the Islamic State terror group. 

In a statement, the FSB said those who had planned to carry out the attack had been "neutralised" and that it had seized firearms, ammunition, and "the components for the manufacture of an improvised explosive device" during its security operation.