Female Bomber Kills Three and Wounds 21 Near Moscow Restaurant

A female bomber detonated a homemade explosive device near an upscale Italian restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, killing three people and injuring at least 21 others, Russian authorities have confirmed.

The blast occurred just before 8:00 pm local time at the Balzi Rossi restaurant, located on Kudrinskaya Square in one of Moscow’s famous Stalin-era skyscrapers. The venue had been closed for a private event at the time of the attack.

According to Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee, an unidentified woman carrying the bomb attempted to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard. The device detonated moments later, killing the woman, the security guard, and a restaurant customer instantly.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin condemned the attack as a “brutal terrorist act” and offered condolences to the families of the victims.

The 21 wounded individuals are receiving medical care in Moscow hospitals, with unconfirmed reports suggesting that six remain in serious condition.

Some Russian media have speculated that the death toll may rise, with REN TV citing a source claiming two injured later died in hospital, though this has not been officially confirmed.

The Moscow Investigative Committee has launched a probe but has not identified suspects or established a motive.

Authorities have not released the names of the victims, but unverified social media reports suggest a top Russian military commander may have been the intended target and was unharmed.

Russian war bloggers have quickly blamed Ukraine for the attack without providing evidence, while Kyiv has not yet commented.

The Kommersant Daily suggested that the woman carrying the bomb may not have known about its contents and that the device could have been remotely detonated by someone else.