American officials have been quick to confirm that the US has intelligence confirming the Islamic State claim it carried out the attack in Moscow, the BBC reported.

The BBC’s US news partner CBS has spoken to a source familiar with the intelligence, who says there has been a steady stream of information – dating back to November – about IS wanting to strike in Russia.

Some highly specific information was passed on to the Russian government, despite the frosty relations between Washington and Moscow.

It has not been confirmed, but it is likely, that this is information that was referred to in the state department warning two weeks ago: Americans in Moscow were told to avoid large gatherings, and specifically warned about concerts.

The State Department said the US was “monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings”. The warning did not at that time name the group it was referring to.

Gunmen attacked Crocus City Hall, a concert venue on the fringes of Moscow, killing at least 60 people and wounding 100 more on March 22.

At least five camouflage-clad gunmen with automatic weapons burst into the packed concert hall in the city’s western suburbs on Friday night as the audience was gathering to watch the veteran rock band Picnic, shooting into the crowd and setting off explosives that started a massive fire.