On the Terrorist Attack at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow
As delivered by Chargé d’Affaires Katherine Brucker
to the Special Permanent Council, Vienna
April 11, 2024
This morning I expressed my country’s sincere condolences on the horrific terror attack on the Crocus City Hall in Moscow. I am compelled to take the floor again to counter outrageous claims that have been made in this hall today.
The March 22nd ISIS-K terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Moscow that killed over 130 people and injured hundreds more was the deadliest terrorist attack in Europe since the Beslan school siege in 2004. Immediately following the attack, ISIS publicly claimed responsibility.
This was ISIS-K’s first successful attack in Russia and its first mass casualty attack outside of its traditional area of operations in South Asia. According to U.S. information ISIS-K probably attacked Russia to demonstrate its ability to extend its reach beyond South Asia and because of Moscow’s relationship with the Taliban and ongoing military intervention against ISIS in Syria.
Since the attack, Kremlin officials have made false statements alleging Ukrainian and U.S. involvement in an attempt to deflect blame and rally domestic support for Russia’s war against Ukraine. Contrary to public statements by President Putin and others who have sought to shift blame onto Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, and any other entity that suits the Kremlin’s political narratives, it is abundantly clear that ISIS-K was solely responsible for the horrific terrorist attack in Moscow on the 22nd.
Despite what the Kremlin says, and despite what our Russian colleague has said, the United States, in fact, tried to help prevent this terrorist attack. The Kremlin knows this. Weeks before the March 22nd attack, the United States government provided clear, detailed information to Russian authorities regarding the terrorist threat against large gatherings and concerts in Moscow. On March 7th, the United States passed a warning to Russian security services. In addition, we released a public advisory on March 8th warning American citizens to avoid large gatherings and concerts in Moscow. While our Embassy’s public advisory might have deterred ISIS-K from attacking on March 8th, our warning to the Russian government accurately identified the terrorist threat posed to concerts in Moscow.
We provided this information to Russia because the United States takes seriously the duty to warn in response to threats of harm against innocent persons. We never want to see innocent lives lost in terror attacks, and this warning was one of many the U.S. government had passed to Russia since September 2023 about various threats.
ISIS bears full responsibility for this horrific attack. The United States will continue to stay vigilant and alert governments around the world whenever we learn of terror plots, regardless of our relationship with. the countries in question.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
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