Key facts
- A homemade bomb detonated near the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant in Moscow on Saturday evening.
- The explosion killed three people: the woman carrying the device, a restaurant security guard, and a customer.
- At least 21 individuals sustained injuries of varying severity.
- The device was reportedly intended to target the restaurant's summer terrace.
- The woman carrying the bomb may not have known it contained explosives, according to one report.
A homemade bomb detonated near an Italian restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, killing three people and injuring at least 21, authorities reported. The explosion occurred around 8 p.m. near the Balzi Rossi restaurant at Kudrinskaya Square.
Russia's anti-terrorism committee stated that an unidentified woman, who was stopped by a security guard from entering the restaurant, was killed in the blast along with the guard and a customer. The restaurant was closed for a private event at the time.
Law enforcement officers secured the scene, which was cordoned off. While authorities have not named the victims or identified any suspects, the Kommersant newspaper cited sources suggesting the bomb was intended to maim and kill guests on the restaurant's outdoor terrace. These sources also suggested the woman carrying the device may not have known it was a bomb and could have been remotely detonated.