Massacre embarrassing Putin, Kremlin ignored American warnings

United States had warned Moscow that militants of I The SIS were planning to attack Russia a few days before armed aggressors stormed the concert hall in western Moscow, killing dozens of spectators.

But President Vladimir Putin ignored the information, calling it provocative. Experts say the size of the massacre is deeply embarrassing to the Russian leader, who only a week ago conveyed the national security message after winning his fifth term at the helm of the Kremlin. Not only did intelligent services fail to prevent the attack, they say, but Putin had failed to heed warnings from Washington that extremists were preparing an attack in Moscow.

David Herszenhorn, editor-in-chief of “Washington Post”, said: “Put will likely face strong criticism over this. He rejected American councils calling them blackmail and attempts to destabilise Russian society. And in fact this is a reminder that it's difficult through the fog of this war in Ukraine and the deteriorating relationships between Russia and the West, to have a real opportunity for Russia and the United States, Russia and the West, to be partners against real enemies like ISIS”.