Posted Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 11:09pm
Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 11:09pm
Heavily armed law-enforcement officers and emergency services were seen at the site of the blast. (Moscow News Agency via AP: Sergei Vedyashkin)
In short:
The mayor of Moscow says a bomb attack on a restaurant was a "brutal terrorist act", but did not say who was responsible.
The blast at an upscale restaurant killed three people, including the bomber, Russian state media reported citing local officials.
What's next?
No one has publicly claimed responsibility for the attack, and the Moscow Investigative Committee says it is still investigating.
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin has called a bomb attack on a restaurant in the capital a "brutal terrorist act", but did not say who was responsible.
The blast on Saturday evening at the Balzi Rossi, an upscale Italian establishment in central Moscow, killed three people, including the female bomber, Russian state media said, citing local officials.
"Yesterday, a brutal terrorist act was committed in Moscow that claimed human lives. The victims are currently in the city's hospitals, where they are receiving all necessary care," Mr Sobyanin wrote on social media Sunday.
At least 21 people were wounded when the explosive device detonated at the restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square, Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAK) said late on Saturday, according to Russian state news agency Ria Novosti.
The woman attempted to smuggle the bomb into the establishment, but the security guard refused to let her in before the bomb exploded, reported Ria Novosti.
The Moscow Investigative Committee said the attack was still being investigated.
The attack took place at an upscale restaurant in central Moscow. (Reuters: Anastasia Barashkova)
The woman, the guard and a customer at the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant were killed instantly in the blast, NAK said.
As of early afternoon on Sunday, local time, there was no further information from Russian authorities, and no one had publicly claimed responsibility.
Footage released by Russian state media showed heavily armed law-enforcement officers, several ambulances and other emergency vehicles at the site.
Ukraine war link speculated
Authorities have not revealed the names of the killed or injured or those of any suspects, but unverified social media reports suggested that a top Russian military commander had been the intended target but had been unharmed.
More than four years into a full-scale war with Ukraine, Russia this year promised better protection for high-ranking military officials after a series of assassinations and attempted killings, which it blamed on Kyiv.
Russian war bloggers, without citing any evidence, were quick to blame Ukraine for the attack. Kyiv did not immediately comment.
The Kommersant Daily suggested that the woman carrying the bomb may not have known about it, and that it had been set off remotely by someone else.
The restaurant's website said the venue had been closed on Saturday for a private event.
AP/Reuters
