An explosion at an upscale Italian restaurant on Moscow’s Kudrinskaya Square on Saturday evening killed three people and wounded 21 others. Russian authorities confirmed the blast was caused by a homemade explosive device. The incident occurred at approximately 7:55 PM local time (5:55 PM BST) at a restaurant located in one of Moscow’s seven Stalin-era skyscrapers. Initially, reports suggested a gas canister explosion, but Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee later confirmed an improvised explosive device was responsible.
The three fatalities included a security guard who reportedly attempted to stop a woman carrying the device, the woman herself, and a restaurant customer. However, these details could not be independently verified. Police initially reported three deaths and 15 injured, but the number of wounded later rose to 21, with injuries ranging in severity. The names of the deceased and injured have not been released, nor has a suspect been officially named.
The restaurant's website indicated it was closed for a private event on the day of the explosion. Russian media, citing sources, reported that the bomb might have been intended for guests on the restaurant's summer terrace and could have been detonated remotely, suggesting the woman carrying it might not have known it was an explosive. Law enforcement sealed off the area, and nearby traffic and metro station entrances were temporarily closed as police, firefighters, and emergency services responded to the scene.
