An explosion near a restaurant terrace on Kudrinskaya Square in Moscow on Saturday evening left three people dead and 21 injured, police confirmed.
The blast occurred at about 8:10pm local time (6:10pm BST), according to a statement from the Interior Ministry on the Russian social media platform Max.
Casualties and victims
Officials initially told state news agency Ria Novosti that the explosion caused "three deaths and 15 injured, of varying degrees of seriousness." The injury toll was later revised from 15 to 21, bringing the total number of casualties to at least 24.
Those hurt were receiving medical treatment. A committee statement reported by the Tass news agency said the dead included "a security guard who prevented an unknown woman suspected of trying to carry the explosive device into the restaurant, the unknown woman and one of the visitors."
Scene and investigation
Video released by the agency showed heavily armed police officers at the scene, which had been sealed off from the public, the BBC reports. The exact cause of the explosion remains uncertain, though the Baza Telegram channel suggested it happened in the establishment's kitchen.
A witness told the channel the venue was hosting a wedding reception with around 50 guests, and that they saw people being carried out covered in blood after the explosion. Scores of cyclists had gathered nearby for a planned evening ride through the city; that event was subsequently cancelled.
Emergency response
Police and emergency services were deployed, and authorities confirmed an investigation into the cause was under way. Russian media reported that traffic in the area around the square had been temporarily suspended and that the entrances to Barrikadnaya metro station had been closed.
