An explosion occurred near a restaurant in central Moscow; there are fatalities

At least three people were killed in an explosion outside a restaurant in central Moscow, Reuters reported.

The explosion occurred on the evening of August 1 near the outdoor dining area located on the first floor of a high-rise building on Kudrinskaya Square—one of Moscow’s seven Stalin-era skyscrapers. The National Anti-Terrorism Committee reported that the explosion was caused by a homemade explosive device that an unidentified woman had attempted to smuggle into the restaurant.

The explosion killed the woman who brought the explosive device, the security guard who stopped her at the restaurant entrance, and one of the restaurant's patrons. According to the latest reports, 21 people were injured, with injuries ranging in severity.

A private event was taking place on Saturday at the restaurant near which the explosion occurred, and the party was heavily guarded, the Russian newspaper *Kommersant* reported, citing a source. According to one account, a female courier told security that she was delivering a gift. The explosion occurred when a security guard attempted to search her. Apparently, the explosive device was detonated remotely, the newspaper wrote. According to preliminary reports, the courier most likely did not know what was inside the package, the article states.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor