Three killed in Moscow restaurant blast

A woman detonated a homemade explosive device outside a Moscow restaurant Saturday night after a security guard stopped her from entering, killing at least three people and injuring more than a dozen, Russian state media reported, citing security officials.

The blast happened at about 8 p.m. local time, or 17:00 GMT, on Kudrinskaya Square near the city center, authorities said. The area is on the ground floor of one of Moscow’s seven Stalin-era skyscrapers, near the Balzi Rossi restaurant and a summer terrace.

Russia’s National Anti-Terrorist Committee said the woman tried to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard. She then blew herself up, killing the guard and a restaurant visitor, according to the committee, which was quoted by Russian state news agencies. The woman was also killed.

Moscow police told RIA Novosti that the explosion caused “three deaths and 15 injured, of varying degrees of seriousness.” The BBC, citing Russian state media and security officials, reported that 21 people were injured. Authorities said the wounded were receiving medical care.

Initial local media reports suggested the explosion may have been caused by a gas canister, Al Jazeera reported. Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee later told the state news agency Tass that the blast was caused by a homemade improvised explosive device.

Witnesses quoted on Telegram said the venue was hosting a private function and described seeing people brought out covered in blood after the explosion. The Telegram monitoring channel ASTRA, citing witnesses, reported that a birthday celebration for a general was taking place near the site of the blast. That report could not be independently verified, and authorities have not confirmed it.

Early reports said the explosion occurred in the restaurant’s kitchen, but the restaurant later issued a statement saying everything was fine inside and that “there was a problem outside.”

Police, firefighters and emergency services were deployed to the scene. Video released by RIA showed heavily armed law enforcement officers around the area, which had been sealed off to the public. Russian media reported that armed security forces blocked access to the Balzi Rossi restaurant.

Roads around Kudrinskaya Square were briefly closed after the blast. Russian media also reported that traffic near the square was temporarily blocked and entrances to the Barrikadnaya metro station were closed. Dozens of cyclists had been gathering nearby for an evening ride through Moscow, but the event was canceled.

Authorities said the cause of the explosion remained under investigation.