A deadly bomb explosion rocked a Moscow restaurant over the weekend, claiming the lives of at least three people and injuring 21 others. The blast occurred on Saturday night at the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant, located on Kudrinskaya Square.
According to Russian state media, a woman with an improvised explosive device attempted to enter the restaurant but was prevented from doing so by a security guard. Moments later, the device detonated, causing widespread damage and chaos.
The attack has sparked fears that the conflict in Ukraine is escalating and spilling over into Russian territory. Many of those interviewed near the scene of the blast believe that there is a direct connection between the explosion and the ongoing war.
The Russian Embassy in Italy has blamed the attack on Ukraine, although there is no official confirmation of the guest list or the intended target of the bombing. The Kremlin has yet to comment on the incident.
The lack of coverage on Russian TV has raised questions about the authorities' desire to avoid alarming the public. For those who witnessed the blast, however, the trauma is all too real. 'I heard a loud bang. I realised immediately that it was an explosion,' said one local resident. 'It's terrible. I just don't know how I'm going to get over this.'