25 Mar 2024 | 05:22 PM UTC
Russia: Heightened security likely nationwide through mid-April following Moscow terror attack /update 6
Tight security likely across Russia through mid-April in response to March 22 Moscow attack. Travel and business disruptions likely.
Russian authorities will almost certainly maintain a heightened security posture nationwide through at least mid-April in the aftermath of the March 22 terror attack at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow. Aviation officials have tightened security at numerous airports across the country, including all Moscow area airports (SVO, VKO, DME, ZIA), as well as those in Saint Petersburg (LED), Kaliningrad (KGD), Vladivostok (VVO), Sochi (AER), Novokuznetsk (NOZ), and Kemerovo (KEJ), and are advising travelers to arrive at airports at least three hours prior to scheduled departures. Russian Railways, the country's primary rail operator, is carrying out enhanced checks prior to departure, during trips, and upon arrival. Urban centers across the country, including Moscow and Saint Petersburg, are implementing increased security in public areas, near schools, and in the vicinity of important infrastructure facilities. Tight security measures are also in place at shopping centers nationwide.
Islamic State-Khorasan Provence (ISIS-K), the group that has claimed responsibility for the Crocus City Hall attack, asserted on March 25 that it was planning additional attacks in Russia in the near future.
The government of Kyrgyzstan is advising its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Russia in the wake of the attack until the increased security measures are lifted; it also recommends that Kyrgyz citizens already in Russia avoid crowded locations. No other governments have as yet issued similar advisories.
Enhanced security measures will likely continue in crowded areas, on transportation, and at airports nationwide in the coming weeks. Police will likely increase the frequency with which they stop and search individuals. Authorities will likely carry out overwhelming responses to potentially threatening situations such as the finding of suspicious packages and receiving bomb threats; consequently, disruptions related to precautionary security operations will likely increase in the coming weeks.
Exercise additional caution in crowded areas including shopping centers, airports, and transport hubs. Allow additional time for all travel. Carry proper identification documents on your person at all times. Remain courteous and cooperative if stopped and questioned by law enforcement officers. Avoid any areas where military or police personnel appear to be deploying; leave the area at the first sign of any security disturbance.
On March 22, at least 4 heavily armed individuals attacked the Crocus City Hall venue in Moscow Oblast. The attack killed at least 144 people and injured about 182 others; it was the deadliest such incident in Russia since the Moscow theater hostage crisis in 2002.
All four suspects accused of directly participating in the attack, as well as several others arrested in connection with the plot, are citizens of Tajikistan. This could lead Russian authorities to devote particular security attention to individuals who appear to be of Central Asian descent and to areas with high concentrations of Central Asian residents.
