Early on Sunday morning, the authorities in Moscow reported that an explosion near the summer terrace of a restaurant in the city center had resulted in at least three fatalities and 15 injuries.
According to the Russian Ministry of Interior, the explosion occurred on Saturday night at a restaurant (café) near Kudrinskaya Square in Moscow.
The Ministry of Interior released a statement on the Russian social media platform Max, indicating that the explosion took place around 8:10 pm local time near Building 1 on Kudrinskaya Square.
The café is located inside or adjacent to one of Moscow’s seven “Stalinist skyscrapers.”
Moscow police informed the Russian state news agency Ria Novosti that the explosion had led to “3 fatalities, 15 injuries of varying severity.” The injured are currently receiving medical treatment.
Law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency response teams have rushed to the scene, with authorities stating that the cause of the explosion is under investigation.
Russia’s state news agency RIA released on-site footage showing heavily armed law enforcement officers present, with the area cordoned off and public access prohibited.
Baza, a web news media closely associated with law enforcement, reported that the explosion occurred at the upscale Italian restaurant Balzi Rossi. The restaurant’s website indicated that it had closed temporarily on Saturday for a private event.
Russian media reports that traffic near the square has been temporarily blocked, and the entrance to the Barrikadnaya metro station has been closed.