3 Killed in Moscow Restaurant Bombing
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- Russia's Anti-Terrorism Committee said an unidentified woman brought a homemade bomb to the restaurant at approximately 7:55pm local time Saturday, attempted to enter, and was stopped by a security guard; the guard, the bomber, and another visitor were among the three dead, with 21 others wounded.
- Kommersant reported, citing sources, that the bomb was intended to maim and kill guests on the restaurant's outdoor summer terrace.
- The restaurant is located in one of Moscow's seven Stalin-era skyscrapers at Kudrinskaya Square, and its website said the venue had been closed Saturday for a private event, though it was unclear who attended.
- Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin labeled the attack a 'brutal terrorist act' on social media but did not assign blame or name a perpetrator.
- As of early Sunday afternoon, no group had publicly claimed responsibility, and Russian authorities said there was no suggestion the explosion was linked to the war in Ukraine.
Why it matters: A bombing at a landmark Stalin-era skyscraper in central Moscow — with 21 injured, no claimed responsibility, and no stated link to the war — puts immediate pressure on Russian authorities to identify the perpetrator and motive while raising fresh questions about domestic security in the capital.
