A homemade bomb carried by a woman exploded near an upscale Italian restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, killing three people and injuring at least 21, authorities reported. The blast occurred shortly before 8 p.m. local time in the Kudrinskaya Square area, an official statement said. Russia's Anti-Terrorism Committee stated that an unidentified woman attempted to enter the Balzi Rossi restaurant but was stopped by a security guard. The explosion that followed killed the woman, the guard, and a customer.
Authorities have not identified the victims or suggested who may be responsible for the attack. Emergency responders were present at the scene, which was cordoned off from the public. Heavily armed law enforcement officers were observed at the location.
Sources cited by the daily newspaper Kommersant suggested the bomb was intended to harm guests on the restaurant's outdoor summer terrace. These sources also indicated that the bomb might have been detonated remotely, and the woman carrying it may not have been aware it was an explosive device. The restaurant's website noted that the venue was closed on Saturday for a private event.
This incident occurs more than four years into Russia's full-scale war with Ukraine. Earlier this year, Russia's FSB security service announced increased protection for high-ranking military officials following a series of assassinations and attempted killings that Moscow attributed to Kyiv.