The explosion took place shortly before 8 PM local time near an Italian eatery situated in one of Moscow’s iconic Stalin-era skyscrapers at Kudrinkskaya Square, police reported.
According to Russia’s Anti-Terrorism Committee, an unidentified woman attempted to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard, as reported by the state RIA news agency.
The agency stated that the explosion killed the woman, the security guard, and a patron of the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant.
Injuries reported varied in severity, according to police sources.
The state RIA news agency also released footage showing heavily armed law enforcement officers at the site, which had been cordoned off from public access.
Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the deceased or injured, nor have they indicated potential suspects.
Amid more than four years of ongoing conflict with Ukraine, Russia’s FSB security service noted earlier this year that measures to enhance protection for senior military officials would be heightened following a string of assassinations and attempted attacks attributed to Kyiv.
The Kommersant newspaper referenced anonymous sources claiming the bomb was designed to severely injure or kill patrons enjoying the restaurant’s outdoor summer terrace.
It was also suggested that the explosive detonated remotely and that the woman carrying it may have been unaware it was a bomb.
The restaurant’s official website indicated that it was closed on Saturday for a private gathering.
