A woman carrying an improvised explosive device killed at least three people near a central Moscow restaurant on Saturday evening.
Key facts
- •The explosion occurred at the Balzi Rossi restaurant in central Moscow just before 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.
- •Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee confirmed the woman, a security guard, and a customer were killed instantly.
- •A total of 21 people were reported injured in the blast.
- •REN TV reported that two additional victims may have died in the hospital, though this remains unconfirmed by officials.
- •The restaurant was closed to the public on Saturday for a private event.
A homemade bomb carried by a woman detonated near an Italian restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, killing at least three people and injuring 21. According to Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee, the woman attempted to enter the Balzi Rossi restaurant but was intercepted by a security guard before the device exploded.
Casualties and Investigation
The explosion occurred shortly before 8:00 p.m. at Kudrinskaya Ploshchad, located in one of Moscow's Stalin-era skyscrapers. The blast killed the woman, the security guard, and a restaurant customer instantly. While official reports confirmed three deaths, REN TV cited a source on Sunday stating that two additional victims died in the hospital, potentially raising the death toll to five, with six others remaining in serious condition. Authorities have not yet identified the victims or any suspects. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin publicly condemned the incident as a terrorist attack and pledged that those responsible would be punished. Law enforcement officers sealed off the area following the blast. While some unverified social media reports and Russian war bloggers suggested the attack may have targeted a high-ranking military official, these claims remain unconfirmed. The Kommersant daily reported a theory that the woman may have been unaware she was carrying a bomb, which could have been detonated remotely.
Context and Precedents
The incident follows a history of similar attacks in Russia, including the 2023 bombing that killed pro-war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky. In that case, Darya Trepova was sentenced to 27 years in prison for delivering a concealed explosive device, claiming she acted under instructions from an individual in Ukraine. Regarding the current attack, Russian officials have previously blamed Kyiv for various assassinations and attempted killings of high-ranking military figures. The Ukrainian government has not issued a comment on the Moscow explosion.
Timeline
- Saturday eveningA woman carrying an improvised explosive device detonated it near a restaurant in central Moscow.
- SundayMoscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin issued a statement condemning the attack.
- SundayREN TV cited a source reporting that the death toll had risen to five.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Moscow Times.
