Woman-Carried Bomb Kills Three, Injures 21 at Moscow Restaurant
MOSCOW — A homemade bomb carried by a woman exploded near an upscale restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, killing three people and injuring
MOSCOW — A homemade bomb carried by a woman exploded near an upscale restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, killing three people and injuring at least 21, Russian authorities said. The blast ripped through the area just before 8 p.m. near Balzi Rossi, an Italian restaurant in one of the city’s seven Stalin-era skyscrapers.
Officials called the attack a “brutal terrorist act.” Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Sunday that victims were being treated in city hospitals and promised that those behind the attack would be found.
Explosion at Kudrinskaya Square
Police said the explosion happened at Kudrinskaya Square, in a busy central district close to one of Moscow’s most recognizable high-rise buildings. The restaurant had been booked for a private event, and the venue’s website said it was closed on Saturday. Images shared by Russian media and Telegram channels showed fire engines, ambulances and heavily armed officers outside the building as investigators sealed off the area.
Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee said a woman tried to enter the restaurant carrying an improvised explosive device but was stopped by a security guard. The device then detonated at the entrance.
The three dead included the woman, the security guard and a restaurant patron, according to the committee. Moscow police said the injured suffered wounds of varying seriousness.
Conflicting early reports
Initial local reports suggested a gas canister may have exploded in the kitchen. That version was later overtaken by the anti-terrorism committee’s account, which said the blast was caused by a homemade explosive device. Moscow police initially put the number of injured at 15, but the toll later rose to at least 21, state media reported.
The authorities have not identified the woman or said who they believe was responsible. The site remained closed off on Sunday as law enforcement continued its investigation.
Russian media also reported that the restaurant was hosting a private birthday party when the explosion happened. One report said the commander of the Russian Air Force, Alexandre Tchaïko, was present, though officials did not confirm that detail.
The incident adds to a string of attacks and security scares in Russia since the war in Ukraine began. For now, investigators are still working at the scene. The only confirmed toll is stark: three dead, 21 wounded.
