Key Points
- Woman carrying bomb dies in explosion
- Security guard among three people killed
- Russian authorities launch terrorism investigation
MOSCOW: A woman carrying an improvised explosive device was killed along with two others after a bomb exploded outside a restaurant in central Moscow, injuring at least 21 people, Russian authorities said on Sunday.
Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee said the woman was attempting to enter a restaurant in Kudrinskaya Square when the device detonated.
The dead included the woman, a security guard who stopped her at the entrance, and a restaurant patron. At least 21 other people were wounded, several of them seriously, according to AP News.
Moscow opens investigations
The Moscow branch of Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal investigation into what officials described as a terrorist attack.
Emergency services cordoned off the area as investigators collected evidence and forensic teams examined the blast site.
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Russian state media reported the explosion occurred as the restaurant was hosting a private event.
Authorities have not publicly identified the intended target or disclosed a possible motive, and no group has claimed responsibility.
The attack comes amid heightened security concerns in Russia, where a series of bombings, drone strikes and targeted attacks have occurred since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022.
Russian officials have not linked the latest explosion to any specific group or country, and the investigation remains ongoing, according to The Times.
