A homemade explosive device detonated at an Italian restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square in Moscow on Saturday evening, killing at least three people and injuring 21, according to the National Anti-Terrorism Committee.
The suspected attacker, an unidentified woman, died in the blast after reportedly attempting to carry the device into the restaurant. A security guard and a patron also lost their lives, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
The explosion occurred around 8pm local time (5pm GMT), about a 25-minute walk from the Kremlin.
Security guard refused entry
The woman allegedly tried to bring the bomb into the Balzi Rossi restaurant, but the security guard refused to let her in before the explosion, according to state media. The blast happened as the restaurant was hosting a private function, the Moscow Investigative Committee told the news agency.
Authorities have not yet said who they believe may have been the target.
Investigation and response
Initial reports suggested the blast occurred within the kitchen, but the restaurant said in a statement that there was a "problem outside".
Roads around the restaurant, located in a skyscraper dating back to the Stalin regime, were temporarily closed. A large police presence was seen in the area, with photographs showing armed police officers at the scene.
