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By Open Chronicle with agencies
At least three people were killed and 21 others injured after a woman carrying an improvised explosive device detonated a bomb outside an upscale restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, prompting Russian authorities to launch a terrorism investigation.
The explosion occurred near the entrance to the Balzi Rossi restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square, where a private event was reportedly taking place. According to Russian officials, the woman attempted to enter the venue but was stopped by a security guard before the device exploded. Both the suspected bomber and the security guard were among those killed, along with another person attending the event.
A homemade bomb carried by a woman killed at least three people and injured 21 in an explosion near an upscale Italian restaurant in central Moscow, authorities said https://t.co/V3Ye3dvQhK pic.twitter.com/OkPhJzVgVG
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 2, 2026
Emergency services rushed to the scene, while police and security forces sealed off the area as investigators began examining the blast site. Several of the injured were taken to hospital, with authorities saying the total number of casualties could change as medical assessments continue.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the explosion as “a brutal terrorist act” and expressed condolences to the victims’ families, pledging that those responsible would be identified and brought to justice. Russia’s National Anti Terrorism Committee and the Investigative Committee have opened a criminal investigation into the attack.
Officials have not released the identities of the victims or the suspected attacker, and no group has claimed responsibility for the bombing.
Russian media have reported speculation that a senior military figure attending the private gathering may have been the intended target, although authorities have not confirmed those reports. Some outlets have also suggested the possibility that the woman carrying the device may not have known it contained explosives, but these claims remain unverified.
The bombing comes amid heightened security concerns inside Russia following a series of attacks targeting military personnel and infrastructure since the start of the war in Ukraine. However, investigators have not established any connection between this incident and previous attacks, and no official evidence has linked the bombing to any specific group or country.
The investigation remains ongoing as Russian authorities continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.