Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described a Saturday evening bombing at a restaurant as a "brutal terrorist act" that killed three people and injured 21. The device, described as a homemade explosive, detonated as a security guard stopped a woman carrying it. No group has claimed responsibility.
The bombing in Moscow highlights ongoing security concerns and the potential for domestic or international actors to carry out attacks within Russia, impacting public safety and potentially influencing geopolitical dynamics.
A homemade bomb exploded at a restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, killing three people and injuring 21 others, according to Russian authorities.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the blast as a "brutal terrorist act" but did not assign blame. The National Anti-Terrorism Committee stated that the device detonated as a security guard stopped a woman who was attempting to enter the restaurant with what authorities believe was an improvised explosive device.
The three fatalities included the woman carrying the device, the security guard, and a customer. The restaurant was hosting a private birthday party at the time, and sources suggest the event was heavily guarded, potentially preventing a higher casualty count.
Investigators are examining the incident, which had the explosive force of approximately one kilogram of TNT and was packed with metal ball bearings. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Russia has experienced several terrorist attacks in recent years, with Ukraine's secret service having claimed or been accused of several attacks since the start of the war in 2022.