A homemade bomb detonated outside an upscale Italian restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday evening, killing three people and injuring at least 21 others, Russian authorities said. The explosion occurred around 8 p.m. local time at the Balzi Rossi restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square, located on the ground floor of one of Moscow’s landmark Stalin-era skyscrapers.
According to Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee, an unidentified woman attempted to enter the restaurant carrying an improvised explosive device concealed in what witnesses and some reports described as a gift box. A security guard became suspicious and moved to search her before she could enter, and the bomb detonated on the veranda outside the restaurant. The three people killed in the blast were the woman carrying the device, the security guard who stopped her, and a customer at the restaurant.
The homemade bomb was packed with metal ball bearings and had the explosive force of approximately one kilogram of TNT, designed to maximize casualties, according to reports. The blast was heard several kilometers away, and heavily armed security forces immediately sealed off the surrounding area. A fire broke out inside the restaurant following the explosion.
The restaurant had been closed to the public for a private event at the time of the bombing. According to the Russian newspaper Kommersant, citing unnamed investigative sources, the apparent targets were guests gathered on the restaurant’s outdoor terrace. Kommersant also reported that investigators believe the explosive device may have been detonated remotely by someone other than the woman carrying it, and that she may not have known the package contained a bomb. Those claims have not been officially confirmed by authorities.
Reports from Russian and Ukrainian Telegram channels suggested the private event was a birthday celebration for a high-ranking military figure, with some sources claiming it was the 55th birthday of General Alexander Chaiko, the Commander-in-Chief of Russia’s Aerospace Forces. Witnesses reported seeing numerous vehicles with military license plates parked near the restaurant. However, authorities have not officially confirmed these claims, and some reports suggested the private event may have been a wedding reception.
Authorities have not yet publicly identified the woman who carried the device or revealed what may have motivated the attack. It remains unclear whether she deliberately detonated the bomb or if it went off accidentally during the security search. Initial reports from some Russian media outlets speculated the explosion may have been caused by a gas leak, but those theories were quickly dismissed after the National Anti-Terrorism Committee confirmed it was a bombing.
The Balzi Rossi restaurant is known for hosting Moscow’s elite, including celebrities, politicians, and other prominent figures. Shortly after the explosion, the restaurant’s head chef, Carmine Alfieri, posted on Instagram saying the staff were safe and characterizing the incident as “a minor issue” at the restaurant entrance. The restaurant later apologized for the post, saying it was “highly inappropriate.”
Emergency response was swift. Police, firefighters, and ambulances arrived at the scene within minutes. Roads around Kudrinskaya Square were closed for several hours, and the nearby Barrikadnaya metro station was temporarily closed. Moscow’s Department of Transport postponed the city’s Night Bike Festival, which had been scheduled to begin later that evening.
The bombing marks another significant security incident in Russia’s capital. Russian authorities attributed responsibility for the blast to a terrorist attack, but officials have provided no information about who may have orchestrated it or what the motive may have been. Investigators were continuing to examine the scene and gather evidence as of Sunday.