Moscow restaurant blast kills 3, Russia says

At least three people are dead and 21 injured after a homemade explosive device detonated outside an Italian restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, according to Russian state media and security officials. The blast occurred around 20:00 local time (17:00 GMT) in Kudrinskaya Square, a short walk from the city’s business district, the National Anti-Terrorist Committee (NAK) reported.

Russia’s NAK said a woman armed with explosives attempted to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard. The device detonated at that point, killing the woman, the guard, and a restaurant visitor. The venue was hosting a private function at the time.

Scene of the blast

The restaurant sits on one of Moscow’s renowned Stalin-era skyscrapers, a seven-tower architectural project dating to the 1940s and 1950s. The area around Kudrinskaya Square is generally busy with shops and residential buildings, and the restaurant had been occupied for a private event when the explosion happened. Emergency services quickly sealed off the street, and RIA Novosti, the Russian state news agency, released video showing heavily armed law-enforcement officers cordoning off the scene.

Witnesses described a chaotic aftermath. People leaving the area reported seeing injured individuals being escorted out, blood visible on their clothes. Some initial reports suggested the blast took place in the kitchen, but the restaurant later issued a statement saying "there was a problem outside" and that the interior was safe.

Security context

Russian authorities have not yet named a suspect or motive. The NAK’s immediate involvement points to a potential act of terrorism, although no group has claimed responsibility. Homemade explosives are occasionally used in criminal and political attacks in Russia, and Moscow has experienced several high-profile bombings over the past two decades.

The incident comes at a time of heightened security awareness in Russian cities. While the Kremlin has frequently emphasized counter-terrorism measures, attacks targeting civilian venues remain rare in the capital. The NAK’s quick statement suggests officials are eager to control the narrative and reassure the public that the situation is contained.

Aftermath and reaction

Roads around the square were temporarily closed while crews combed the area. A planned evening bicycle ride through the city, which had gathered dozens of participants nearby, was canceled as a precaution. The restaurant’s staff and guests were evacuated, and local hospitals received the wounded, though their conditions have not been disclosed.

The investigation will likely look into the woman’s identity and how the device was assembled. State media quoted security sources saying the explosive was homemade, indicating the attacker may have acted alone or with a small cell. Forensic teams are expected to analyze surveillance footage from the building and surrounding streets.

For now, the city is on edge. This attack, though limited in scale, strikes at a civilian space in the heart of Moscow, and the authorities will face pressure to provide answers quickly. As the probe unfolds, security around restaurants and public venues in the capital will probably be tightened, and questions will remain about the effectiveness of existing counter-terror measures.