Three people were killed and at least 21 others were injured after an explosion outside the well-known Balzi Rossi restaurant in central Moscow. According to Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee, the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) carried by a woman who attempted to enter the restaurant.Russian authorities said a security guard stopped the woman at the entrance moments before the device exploded. The woman, the security guard, and one restaurant guest were killed. More than 20 other people suffered injuries ranging from minor to critical and were taken to nearby hospitals.
The explosion occurred shortly before 8:00 p.m. local time near Kudrinskaya Square, close to one of Moscow’s famous Stalin-era skyscrapers. The restaurant had been closed to the public for a private event. According to the Russian newspaper Kommersant, investigators are examining whether the guests attending the event were the intended target. The newspaper also reported that investigators have not ruled out the possibility that the explosive device may have been detonated remotely and that the woman may not have been aware she was carrying it. This information has not been officially confirmed.
Investigators from Russia’s security services have sealed off the area and launched a large-scale investigation. Authorities have not identified any suspects or publicly attributed responsibility for the attack, and no official link has been established to the war in Ukraine or to any specific organization.
The incident comes amid heightened security across Russia. Earlier this year, the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced increased protection for senior government and military officials following several assassination attempts and sabotage incidents that Moscow has blamed on Ukrainian intelligence services. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the explosion.
Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee.
