Teenager Arrested in Russia Over TikTok Terrorist Threat, Following US Tip-Off

A Russian teenager has been detained after the United States tipped off authorities in Moscow about a terrorist threat made on TikTok, Russian media has reported.

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Saturday that it was tipped off by the United States through established partner channels about the threat to attack the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve, a major historic palace and park complex in southern Moscow.

The complex was closed ​to the public temporarily on Saturday, but reopened on Sunday.

“The Federal Security Service, in coordination with the Russian National Guard, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Investigative Committee, conducted an investigation into information received from US law enforcement agencies regarding preparations for a terrorist attack in Moscow’s Tsaritsyno Museum,” the FSB said in a statement, Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency reported.

“As a result of these measures, Russian law enforcement detained an underaged Russian citizen, who posted photos of himself on the short-video platform TikTok wearing tactical clothing, a balaclava, a cap, sunglasses, and headphones holding an object resembling an automatic weapon, as well as photos taken at the Tsaritsyno Museum with the caption: ‘I found a place.’”

Neo-Nazi Telegram Channel Subscription

Related Stories

The FSB said clothing and other accessories were found at the teenager’s home, and they said they had also found links to the TikTok account from which the threats were posted, as well as a subscription to a neo-Nazi channel on the Telegram messaging app.

The teenager’s internet search history also suggested an interest in terrorist acts, mass murders, and other acts of violence, the FSB said.

“We are thankful to the American side for the information it has shared,” the FSB said.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow posted an alert on its own website on Saturday.

“The U.S. Embassy in Moscow is aware of a credible threat of a mass casualty event TODAY October 31, at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve in Moscow at Dolskaya Ulitsa 1, Moscow, Russia 11569,” the embassy wrote. “The U.S. government is coordinating with appropriate Russian authorities on a response.”

The Epoch Times reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.

In March 2024, ​the U.S. Embassy posted an alert about ⁠the risk of an imminent attack on “large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours.”

Catherine the Great’s Estate

Tsaritsyno was created by Catherine the Great, Russia’s 18th century empress, and the original palace buildings were designed by architect Vasily Bazhenov.

But Catherine then decided she wanted a new residence, the Grand Palace, built by another architect, Matvey Kazakov.

After her death in 1796, work stopped on the Grand Palace, and it fell into disrepair more than two centuries.

From 2005 to 2007, the Grand Palace was restored to its former glory and Tsaritsyno has become a popular destination for Russian and foreign tourists.

Tsaritsyno has also been the backdrop for a number of famous Russian films, including period dramas “Admiral“ and ”Elizabeth,“ and the 2016 fantasy movie ”Santa Claus: Battle of the Magi.”

Reuters contributed to this report.