- At least three people were killed in an explosion near a cafe in the Russian capital, according to authorities.
- The explosion occurred near a summer terrace located on the ground floor of one of Moscow’s seven Stalin-era skyscrapers at Kudrinskaya Square on Saturday.
- Moscow police reported that the blast resulted in three deaths and 15 injuries of varying degrees of seriousness.
- The explosion was caused by a homemade improvised explosive device, according to Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee.
- The victims included a security guard who tried to stop a woman suspected of carrying the explosive device, the woman herself, and a restaurant customer.
- The blast occurred around 8:10 p.m. local time near the outdoor terrace of the upscale restaurant Balzi Rossi.
- The explosion took place during a private event at the restaurant, which was closed to the public at the time.
- Initial reports suggested the explosion may have been caused by a gas canister, but this was later contradicted by authorities.
- Emergency services were deployed to the scene, and traffic near the square was temporarily blocked following the explosion.
An explosion near a cafe in Moscow on Saturday evening resulted in at least three fatalities and over 15 injuries. The blast occurred around 8:10 p.m. local time at the Balzi Rossi restaurant, which was hosting a private event at the time.367
According to the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, the explosion was caused by a homemade improvised explosive device. The committee reported that the victims included a security guard who attempted to stop a woman suspected of carrying the device, the woman herself, and a restaurant customer.45
Initial reports suggested the explosion might have been due to a gas canister, but authorities later confirmed the use of an improvised explosive device. The incident prompted a significant response from police and emergency services, who sealed off the area and began an investigation into the cause of the blast.8
Traffic was temporarily blocked near Kudrinskaya Square, and the entrances to the nearby Barrikadnaya metro station were closed. Witnesses reported that a birthday celebration for a general was taking place near the explosion site, although this claim has not been verified.2
“We’re all fine, and our restaurant and kitchen are in perfect condition; there was just a minor issue at the restaurant entrance,” said Balzi Rossi chef Carmine Alfieri, expressing gratitude for the support received following the incident.
The explosion has raised concerns about security in public spaces, particularly in light of the ongoing investigation into the motivations behind the attack.
“Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee said the blast was caused by a homemade improvised explosive device, and the dead included a security guard, the suspected woman and a restaurant customer. Police earlier reported at least 15 wounded, while authorities said the cause was under investigation.”
