Woman's homemade bomb kills 3 at Moscow restaurant; mayor calls it terrorist attack
Three people, including a woman carrying a homemade bomb, were killed and at least 21 others injured after an explosion outside the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant in central Moscow. Authorities said the woman was stopped by security before the blast. Investigators are probing the incident.
An unidentified woman carrying a homemade bomb was among three people killed after the explosive device detonated outside an upscale Italian restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, leaving at least 21 others injured, Russian authorities said.
The blast occurred shortly before 8 pm local time near the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant, located inside one of Moscow's seven iconic Stalin-era skyscrapers at Kudrinkskaya Square.
According to Russia's Anti-Terrorism Committee, an unidentified woman carrying the explosive device attempted to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard. The bomb detonated moments later, killing the woman, the security guard and a restaurant customer.
Police said at least 21 people sustained injuries of varying severity. Emergency services and heavily armed law enforcement personnel sealed off the area following the explosion.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has described the bombing as a "brutal terrorist act" but did not identify who was responsible for the attack.
Authorities have not identified the victims or announced who they believe was behind the attack.
The Kommersant newspaper, citing unnamed sources, reported that the explosive may have been intended to target guests seated on the restaurant's outdoor summer terrace. It also suggested the device could have been detonated remotely and that the woman carrying it may not have been aware it contained explosives.
The Balzi Rossi restaurant said it had been closed to the public on Saturday because it was hosting a private event.
The explosion comes more than four years into Russia's war with Ukraine. Earlier this year, Russia's FSB security service said it would strengthen protection for senior military officials after a series of assassinations and attempted attacks that Moscow blamed on Kyiv. No link between those incidents and Saturday's blast has been established by investigators.