Explosion in Moscow kills three, injures over 20
A homemade bomb carried by a woman killed three people and injured at least 21 in an explosion near an upscale restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, authorities said, reports BritPanorama.
The explosion occurred just before 2000 local time close to an Italian restaurant located in one of Moscow’s seven Stalin-era skyscrapers at Kudrinkskaya Square, the police said.
According to Russia’s Anti-Terrorism Committee, an unidentified woman had attempted to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard, as reported by the state RIA news agency.
Following the blast, the woman, the security guard, and a customer at the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant were confirmed dead.
The injuries sustained by those affected varied in severity, the police reported.
Footage released by Russia’s state RIA news agency showed heavily armed law enforcement officers at the scene, which had been cordoned off to the public.
The authorities did not disclose the identities of the deceased or injured, nor did they provide insights into potential suspects.
More than four years into a full-scale war with Ukraine, Russia’s FSB security service stated earlier this year that authorities would enhance protection for high-ranking military officials following a number of assassinations and attempted killings attributed to Kyiv.
The Kommersant daily newspaper cited its own sources indicating that the bomb was designed to inflict harm and casualties among guests dining on the restaurant’s summer terrace.
There are indications that the bomb may have been detonated remotely, suggesting that the woman carrying it may not have been aware it was an explosive device.
The restaurant’s website noted that the venue had been closed on Saturday for a private event.
