Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Sunday denounced the explosion at a central Moscow restaurant as a "brutal terrorist act."
The incident occurred Saturday at a prestigious restaurant in the Kudrinskaya Square district, leaving three dead and at least 21 injured.
"Yesterday, a brutal terrorist act was committed in Moscow that claimed human lives," Sergei Sobyanin wrote in a social media post.
The restaurant, located on the ground floor of a well-known Stalin-era high-rise near Barrikadnaya metro station, was hosting a private event at the time, with around 50 guests inside.
According to Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee, a woman attempted to bring an improvised explosive device into the establishment but was intercepted by a security guard. Following this, an explosion occurred, which was followed by a fire classified as the third level of complexity.
Among the deceased were the woman who attempted to detonate the device, the security guard, and a restaurant visitor. Six of the injured remain in serious condition, and medical teams are working to stabilize them. The surrounding area was cordoned off throughout the night, with bomb disposal experts and emergency services conducting operations at the scene. Even the night bicycle race along the Garden Ring was canceled.
The Mayor of Moscow also said that law enforcement agencies are investigating all the circumstances of the incident.
Moscow mayor calls restaurant explosion "brutal terrorist act"
