The United States has information that supports the Islamic State group’s claim that its fighters launched the deadly attack at a concert hall in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, two US officials told Reuters.

US officials emphasize that Washington had warned Moscow about the terrorist threat two weeks ago.

“Earlier this month, the U.S. government received information about a planned terrorist attack in Moscow — possibly against large gatherings, including concerts — that prompted the State Department to issue a directive to Americans in Russia,” spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said. of the White House National Security Council. “The US government shared this information with the Russian authorities,” following the long-standing “duty to warn” policy, he added.

More than 60 people were killed and 145 injured when gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons on a crowd gathered at a concert hall near Moscow. It is one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in recent decades in Russia.

“We had warned the Russians,” assured a US official who wished to remain anonymous, referring to the deadly terrorist attack.

The US embassy in Russia warned on March 8 that “extremists” were planning an imminent attack on Moscow, hours after Russian security services said they had foiled an attack on a Jewish synagogue planned by jihadists from the Afghan branch of Islamic State.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sparked the worst crisis in Russia’s relations with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. The Kremlin says relations with the US have never been at their worst and accuses Washington of fighting against Moscow, strengthening Kiev militarily and economically.