A devastating explosion at a Moscow restaurant has claimed at least three lives and left 15 other people wounded, regional law enforcement authorities have confirmed.
The incident unfolded shortly after 8:00 p.m. local time, which corresponds to 17:00 GMT, at a dining establishment located on Kudrinskaya Square, just a short distance from Moscow’s bustling city center. As of the latest updates, officials have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the blast. However, the independent Russian Telegram channel Baza has cited early on-site indications that the explosion originated in the restaurant’s kitchen area.
A witness who spoke to Baza shared chilling details of the aftermath, noting that the venue was hosting a wedding reception when the explosion occurred. Around 50 guests were in attendance at the event, the witness added, describing horrific scenes of bloodied victims being carried out of the damaged building by first responders.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, local authorities moved quickly to close all vehicle access to roads surrounding Kudrinskaya Square. The disruption also extended to a planned community cycling event: dozens of cyclists had been assembling nearby for a scheduled evening group ride through the capital, which organizers called off following the blast.
Footage captured and released by Russian state-owned news agency RIA shows a heavy law enforcement presence at the cordoned-off site, with heavily armed officers deployed to secure the area and bar unauthorized public access. Investigations into the cause and circumstances of the explosion are ongoing.
Three killed in Moscow restaurant explosion
