Russia's security service detains a teenager planning a 'terror attack' after a US tip-off

WASHINGTON — A suspect allegedly planning a terror attack on a major Moscow museum was arrested by Russian authorities after a tip-off from the United States, Russia's security agency FSB announced on Sunday.

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

The arrest came after the U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a security alert on Saturday, warning 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 told the institution was not aware of any warnings. However, several events scheduled to take place at the venue were later canceled and security measures were put in place, according to Russian state media.

The unnamed suspect was detained after posting images on TikTok of himself wearing tactical clothing and an "object resembling an automatic weapon" and sharing photos taken at 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 "significant number of search queries regarding past terrorist acts, mass murders, and other violent acts." It said airsoft weapons were found at the suspect's home.

It is not unusual for the U.S. to share security warnings with other countries — the State Department has a long-standing "duty to warn" policy and is obligated to let U.S. expat communities know of any threats.

The alert issued on Saturday said the U.S. government was "coordinating with appropriate Russian authorities on a response."

However, Russia has not always received U.S. warnings with thanks. In March 2024, during the Biden administration era, the U.S. 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 dismissed that warning as a provocation. Days later, assailants stormed Moscow's Crocus City Hall venue and killed more than 140 people. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack.

Putin's reaction was different in 2017, during President Donald Trump's first presidency, when the U.S. warned Moscow about a planned terror attack at 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 detain the suspects.

The latest warning and the FSB's public statement thanking the U.S., comes at a time of an increased scrutiny of the Trump administration's relationship with Russia.

Trump has made significant concessions to Russia on sanctions in recent weeks, which have triggered criticism on both sides of the aisle in Washington and driven a wedge between the U.S. and its Western allies.

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