Moscow Mayor Labels Restaurant Bombing a Terrorist Attack
MOSCOW- Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Sunday described the bombing of a restaurant in the Russian capital as a “brutal terrorist act” after an explosion at an upscale Italian restaurant killed three people, including the suspected female attacker, and injured at least 21 others, while authorities continued investigating the incident.
The explosion occurred on Saturday evening at Balzi Rossi, a restaurant in central Moscow’s Kudrinskaya Square that was hosting a private event, according to Russian state media. Officials said three people were killed, including the woman believed to have carried the explosive device.
In a message posted on social media, Sobyanin said the attack had claimed lives and that those injured were receiving treatment in Moscow hospitals. He did not identify those responsible or provide further details about the investigation.
Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee said at least 21 people were wounded in the blast. Emergency services responded to the scene, where law enforcement officers secured the area and ambulances transported the injured to hospitals.
According to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, the suspected attacker attempted to enter the restaurant carrying an explosive device but was stopped by a security guard. The device detonated before she was able to gain entry, the agency reported.
The Moscow Investigative Committee said on Saturday evening that it had opened an investigation into the explosion. By early Sunday afternoon, Russian authorities had not announced any suspects or identified a group responsible for the attack.
No organization had claimed responsibility for the bombing as of Sunday.
Video released by Russian state media showed heavily armed security personnel deployed around the restaurant while emergency crews worked at the site following the explosion.
