MOSCOW, Russia — 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 others, Russian authorities said.
The explosion occurred shortly before 8 p.m. local time outside the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant at Kudrinskaya Square, an area known for one of Moscow’s iconic Stalin-era skyscrapers.
According to Russia’s Anti-Terrorism Committee, the woman attempted to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard before the device detonated. State news agency RIA Novosti reported that the woman, the security guard and a customer were killed in the blast.
Police said the 21 injured sustained wounds of varying severity and were taken to hospital for treatment. Authorities have not released the identities of the victims.
Video aired by Russian state media showed heavily armed security personnel surrounding the scene as investigators cordoned off the area and began collecting evidence.
Investigators have not identified those responsible for the explosion or disclosed a possible motive. Authorities also did not immediately confirm whether the woman knowingly carried the explosive device.
However, Russian newspaper Kommersant, citing unnamed sources, reported that investigators are exploring the possibility that the bomb was intended to target guests gathered on the restaurant’s outdoor terrace. The publication suggested the explosive may have been detonated remotely and that the woman carrying it might not have been aware it contained a bomb.
The restaurant’s website indicated that it had been closed to the public on Saturday for a private event.
The incident comes amid heightened security concerns in Russia, more than four years into its full-scale war with Ukraine. Earlier this year, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced enhanced protection measures for senior military officials following a series of assassinations and attempted attacks that Moscow has blamed on Ukraine.
Authorities have launched a criminal investigation to determine who orchestrated the attack, how the explosive device was assembled and transported, and whether additional suspects were involved.
Investigators are also examining surveillance footage and forensic evidence recovered from the scene as they seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding the deadly blast.
