A deadly explosion ripped through a Moscow restaurant on Saturday evening, leaving at least three people dead and 21 others injured in what authorities are describing as an attack involving an improvised explosive device.
The blast occurred at approximately 8:00 p.m. local time near the Balzi Rossi restaurant, located on the ground floor of a historic Stalin-era skyscraper in Kudrinskaya Square. According to Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee, the explosion was triggered when a woman attempted to enter the eatery carrying a homemade bomb.
Authorities report that a security guard intercepted the woman before she could breach the venue. The ensuing detonation claimed the lives of the guard, the woman carrying the device, and a restaurant patron. In response, heavily armed security forces and emergency crews cordoned off the area, halted local traffic, and shuttered the nearby Barrikadnaya metro station.
While initial local reports speculated that a gas leak was to blame, the narrative quickly shifted to a deliberate attack. Kommersant, a prominent Russian newspaper, cited anonymous sources suggesting the explosive was intended for guests on the restaurant's summer terrace and may have been detonated remotely. The outlet further posited that the woman carrying the bomb might have been an unwitting mule unaware of the lethal cargo she possessed.
Adding to the intrigue, the independent Telegram monitoring channel ASTRA reported that a high-ranking military general was celebrating a birthday near the blast site. While officials have not verified this claim, the restaurant's website confirmed the venue had been closed on Saturday to host a private event.
Identities of the victims and potential suspects have not yet been released. The bombing unfolds against the backdrop of Russia's ongoing, multi-year conflict with Ukraine. Earlier this year, Russia's FSB security service announced increased protective measures for senior military personnel following a string of assassinations and attempted hits that Moscow has consistently blamed on Ukrainian operatives.