3 people killed, 15 wounded in Moscow restaurant explosion

At least three individuals lost their lives and 21 others sustained injuries following a homemade explosive device explosion at an Italian restaurant in Moscow, according to Russian state media quoting security officials. The incident occurred around 20:00 local time on Kudrinskaya square, situated in the city center. The National Anti-Terrorist Committee disclosed that a woman attempting to enter the restaurant with explosives was halted by a security guard.

Tragically, the woman, the guard, and a restaurant visitor were killed when the device detonated. The Balzi Rossi restaurant, which was hosting a private gathering at the time, was the location of the explosion. While authorities have not identified a specific target, many residents of Moscow may suspect a connection to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Over the past few years, several high-ranking Russian military officials have been murdered in or near the capital, with Moscow attributing these attacks to Kyiv. The restaurant, situated within a renowned Stalin-era skyscraper, had its surrounding roads temporarily closed due to the incident. The event had been expected to draw numerous cyclists for an evening ride through the city, but the gathering was called off following the explosion.

Video footage from Russia’s RIA news agency depicted heavily armed law enforcement officers surrounding the scene, which was cordoned off from the public.