US withholds crucial information on Moscow terror incident – NYT

The New York Times reported that due to the lack of trust between the US and Russia, Washington refrained from sharing all the intelligence it had regarding a potential terrorist attack in Moscow, which ultimately led to devastating consequences.

Last Friday, a tragic event unfolded in Russia as four gunmen carried out a violent massacre at a concert venue near the capital, resulting in the loss of over 140 lives.

Despite issuing a warning to American citizens in Moscow about a potential attack in March, the US embassy did not disclose all the information to Russian security officials, citing the strained relationship between the two countries as a barrier.

President Vladimir Putin identified the attackers as radical Islamists with ties to ISIS-K, an offshoot of the Islamic State, while Washington attributed the attack to ISIS-K, sparking a discrepancy in the official narratives between the two nations.

Several Russian media sources have implied that the terrorists had originally intended to carry out an attack at Crocus City Hall before their actual assault. On March 10, the venue held a concert featuring Shaman, an artist who has been criticized by opponents of the Russian leader for his nationalist-themed lyrics, leading to him being labeled as “pro-Putin.”

An individual believed to be one of the attackers was allegedly captured in a photograph taken at the location on March 7, as reported by the Russian media. As a result of the warning issued by the United States, security measures were reportedly intensified at the concert hall in the days that followed.