Moscow blast kills three near luxury restaurant

A bomb blast rocked Moscow on Saturday evening, claiming three lives and injuring at least 21 people. The explosion occurred near the luxury Italian restaurant Balzi Rossi, located in one of the Stalin-era skyscrapers in Kudrinskaya Square.

According to Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee, the blast happened shortly before 8 p.m. local time. A woman, identified as the carrier of the explosive device, was reportedly stopped by a security guard as she attempted to enter the restaurant. The explosion killed the woman, the security guard, and one restaurant patron.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims or provided information on who might be responsible for the attack. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) had previously announced increased security measures for high-ranking military officials due to a series of assassinations and attempted assassinations attributed to Kyiv. The newspaper Kommersant, citing sources, suggested the bomb was intended to maim and kill patrons on the restaurant's outdoor terrace, and that the woman carrying it may not have known it was an explosive device, implying it could have been detonated remotely.

The area was cordoned off by heavily armed police following the incident. The restaurant's website indicated it was closed on Saturday for a private event.

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A woman, the security guard, and a customer of the Italian restaurant Balzi Rossi were killed in the ensuing explosion.