At least three people were killed and 21 others injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near a summer café in central Moscow on Saturday evening, Russian authorities said. The blast occurred after a security guard reportedly attempted to stop a woman suspected of carrying the explosive device into the crowded venue, preventing what officials believe could have been an even deadlier attack.
The country's National Anti-Terrorist Committee (NAC) revised the number of injured to 21, up from an earlier estimate of 15. Officials said the victims suffered injuries of varying severity and were immediately transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The explosion took place at approximately 8:10 p.m. local time near House No. 1 on Kudrinskaya Square, a busy area in central Moscow known for its restaurants, cafés, and residential buildings. The incident caused panic among visitors and residents, with emergency services rushing to the scene within minutes.
Preliminary findings from the National Anti-Terrorist Committee indicate that the blast occurred when a security guard confronted a woman who was allegedly attempting to enter the café while carrying an improvised explosive device. During the intervention, the device detonated, resulting in multiple casualties.
In an official statement cited by TASS, the NAC said the explosion occurred at around 7:55 p.m. Moscow time (1655 GMT). "An improvised explosive device went off in a restaurant in Moscow, killing three people: 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," the committee said.
Authorities identified the three people killed as the security guard, the female suspect carrying the device, and a customer who was inside or near the café at the time of the explosion. Officials have not yet released the identities of the victims pending notification of their families.
Emergency medical teams, ambulances, firefighters, and law enforcement personnel responded swiftly to the blast site. Medical authorities confirmed that all injured victims were receiving the necessary treatment at hospitals across the city.
Alexey Kuznetsov, an aide to Russia's Health Minister, said emergency medical services had been fully mobilised. "The casualties of the explosion in the restaurant in Moscow are receiving all the necessary medical care," Kuznetsov told reporters, adding that hospitals had adequate resources to treat those injured.
The explosion triggered a large-scale security operation in the Russian capital. Investigators and forensic experts from the Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for Moscow arrived at the scene shortly after the blast to examine evidence and determine the exact sequence of events.
In a statement, the Investigative Committee said investigators and criminologists were conducting a detailed inspection of the site while collecting evidence that could help establish the motive behind the attack and identify any possible accomplices.
"Investigators and criminologists from the Main Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for Moscow are working at the site. An inspection of the scene is currently underway," the statement said.
The National Anti-Terrorist Committee also confirmed that extensive search operations and investigative measures were continuing.
"The necessary search measures and investigative actions aimed at establishing all the circumstances of the incident are currently being carried out," the committee stated.
Following the explosion, police officers, bomb disposal teams, and members of Russia's National Guard (Rosgvardiya) sealed off the area surrounding Kudrinskaya Square. Access to nearby streets and buildings was restricted as investigators searched for additional evidence and ensured there were no further explosive threats.
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Witnesses described scenes of chaos immediately after the blast, with shattered glass, damaged outdoor seating, and people rushing to assist the injured before emergency responders arrived. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the woman acted alone or whether the incident was linked to a larger network.
As a precautionary measure, the Moscow Department of Transport announced the postponement of the city's scheduled Second Night Cycling Festival, citing public safety concerns and the need to avoid additional crowds in the affected area.
Russian authorities have not yet officially identified a motive for the explosion, and investigations remain ongoing. Security agencies are reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses, and examining forensic evidence to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Officials have urged the public to avoid speculation while the investigation continues, promising that further information will be released as it becomes available.
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