Moscow restaurant explosion kills at least 3, injures 15

At least three people died and 15 were injured in an explosion that rocked central Moscow on a recent evening. The blast occurred near the outdoor seating area of a restaurant, according to police. Emergency services and investigators quickly arrived at the scene, which was cordoned off by heavily armed law enforcement officers.

The exact cause of the explosion remains undetermined. Russian state television has speculated that a gas cylinder may have been responsible, but this has not been officially confirmed. The injured sustained varying degrees of harm.

Reports from Russian media indicate the incident took place near the base of one of the Stalin-era skyscrapers on Kudrinskaya Square. The restaurant, identified by online media outlet Baza as the upscale Italian establishment Balzi Rossi, was reportedly closed for a private event at the time of the explosion. Its website confirmed it was not open to the public on the day of the incident.