A U.S. intelligence warning to Moscow two weeks ahead of a deadly March 22 terrorist attack included specific reference to the Crocus City H
When the US warned Russia about the likelihood of a terrorist attack, the Crocus City Hall venue was specifically mentioned in the warning. Of course Putin didn't listen and the result was a catastrophe.
A U.S. intelligence warning to Moscow two weeks ahead of a deadly March 22 terrorist attack included specific reference to the Crocus City Hall concert venue that was targeted, The Washington Post reported on April 2. According to the report, which was later confirmed by The New York Times, U.S. officials told Moscow that the Islamic State extremist group was plotting an attack and that Crocus City Hall was a potential target. The warning did not include specifics about the timing of the attack but said it could come within days, intelligence sources told the two newspapers. Four gunmen stormed the concert hall outside of Moscow just before a concert, killing 144 people in the deadliest terrorist attack in Russia since 2004. The Islamic State, a designated terrorist group, quickly claimed responsibility for the attack.
Putin prefers to live in his fantasy bubble. If Russia mass produces fake news, it's not a stretch for Putin to fabricate his own reality. And it suits him to try to blame Ukraine even when few people with expertise in terrorist activity believe him.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials and commentators have claimed without evidence that Ukraine might have played a role in the attack. Ukrainian officials have denied any involvement and have accused Moscow of using the tragedy to ramp up its war against their country. [ ... ] The Crocus attack was a major failure for Russia's security forces, which critics say are focused on stifling domestic political dissent and opposition to the war against Ukraine, often prosecuting political opinions as "terrorism" or "extremism."
The Crocus attack and the emerging background details about it show that dictators do not keep you safe.
Like any autocrat, Putin is far more concerned about his own prestige and power than about the lives of his countrymen. Look at the losses he's subjecting Russia to just so he can pretend to be the 21st century equivalent of Peter the Great.
