A homemade bomb exploded at a restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday, killing two people and the woman suspected of carrying the device, and injuring 21 others, according to state news agency RIA Novosti, which cited Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee.
An unidentified woman attempted to enter Balzi Rossi restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square carrying what authorities believe was an improvised explosive device, the committee said. A security guard stopped her from entering before the device exploded, killing the woman and the guard. A restaurant customer was also killed.
Authorities did not immediately identify the woman or say what motivated her actions. It was also unclear whether she deliberately detonated the device.
The blast happened around 8:10 p.m. local time (1:10 p.m. ET) near an outdoor terrace at Building 1 on Kudrinskaya Square, outside the entrance to the upscale restaurant Balzi Rossi, according to Russian state news agency TASS, which cited the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
At the time of the blast, the restaurant was closed to the public for a private banquet, according to its website.
