Moscow mayor labels restaurant bomb attack as terrorist act

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin described a bomb attack on a restaurant in the capital on Saturday as a "terrorist act" but did not specify who was responsible. The explosion at the Balzi Rossi restaurant, which occurred in the evening, resulted in three fatalities, including the female bomber, according to Russian state media citing local officials. Sobyanin stated on social media that the victims are receiving care in local hospitals and that an investigation is underway to identify those responsible for the attack. The National Anti-Terrorism Committee reported that at least 21 individuals were injured in the blast. A woman attempted to bring the bomb into the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard before the device detonated. As of Sunday afternoon, no further updates had been provided by Russian authorities, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The restaurant was reportedly closed for a private event at the time of the explosion. Footage from the scene showed law enforcement and emergency response teams present. Earlier this year, Russian authorities announced increased security measures for military and government officials following a series of assassination attempts since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. However, no connections have been made between this incident and previous attacks or the ongoing conflict. Previous accusations from Russia suggested Ukrainian involvement in a car bombing last April that killed a Russian general, but Ukraine did not claim responsibility for that incident either.