The deadly Moscow restaurant bombing killed three people; a device carried by a woman exploded inside the restaurant

A homemade bomb carried by a woman exploded at the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, resulting in three fatalities and at least 21 injuries. The explosion occurred just before 8pm near one of Moscow’s iconic Stalin-era skyscrapers at Kudrinskaya Square.¹⁵

According to authorities, the unidentified woman attempted to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard. Tragically, both the woman and the guard, along with a customer, were killed in the blast. The police reported that those injured sustained wounds of varying seriousness.

Russia’s anti-terrorism committee is investigating the incident, but details remain scarce. The authorities have not disclosed the identities of the victims or potential suspects. The Kommersant daily suggested that the bomb was likely intended to target guests on the restaurant’s summer terrace and speculated that it may have been detonated remotely, indicating the woman may not have been aware of its lethal nature.²³

The restaurant was closed for a private event at the time of the explosion, and heavily armed law enforcement officers were seen securing the area following the incident. This tragic event raises significant concerns about public safety and security measures in Moscow.