A homemade bomb exploded outside a restaurant in central Moscow on Saturday 1 August 2026, killing three people and wounding at least 21. It was one of the deadliest attacks in the Russian capital in recent months.

The bomb went off just before 8 p.m. near the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant. The restaurant is inside one of Moscow's famous Stalin-era skyscrapers at Kudrinskaya Square, a busy area in the city center. The Guardian reported that the bomb was carried by a woman who tried to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard. Russia's anti-terrorism committee, speaking through the state RIA news agency, said the woman was intercepted at the entrance before the bomb went off.

The three people killed were the woman carrying the bomb, the security guard who blocked her, and a customer at the restaurant. Moscow authorities did not name the dead or injured. They also did not say who might be responsible. The number of wounded was first reported as 15, according to TASS citing Moscow's Interior Ministry, but was later raised to 21 in a follow-up statement from TASS.

The restaurant's website showed it had been closed to the public for a private event on Saturday. That means the bombing may have been aimed at a specific group of people rather than random diners. The Kommersant newspaper, using its own sources, reported that the bomb was meant to hit guests on the restaurant's outdoor summer terrace. Kommersant also suggested the bomb was set off remotely by someone else and that the woman carrying it may not have known she had a bomb. Those claims have not been independently confirmed, and no group has been blamed.

The Associated Press, citing Russian state media, confirmed the blast killed at least three people including the person carrying the explosive. CNN described the woman as a suspect in carrying the device, reporting two victims plus the bomber among the dead. AP confirmed the death toll of three.

Why does this matter? The restaurant sits inside one of Moscow's most famous buildings, in a crowded part of the city. If investigators confirm the bombing was aimed at a private event, it would suggest the attackers planned carefully and watched the location ahead of time, rather than acting on impulse. The possibility that the woman did not know she was carrying a bomb, and that someone else set it off from a distance, points to tactics used by groups trying to protect themselves while causing maximum harm. No group has claimed responsibility, and Russian officials have not publicly shared a theory about who did this.

Russia's anti-terrorism committee is leading the public statements on the case, rather than regular police. This is important because it means the investigation falls under counterterrorism rules, which give authorities extra powers like holding suspects longer and conducting wider surveillance than normal criminal cases allow.

The number of wounded rose from 15 to 21 over the course of the evening. This is common in bombing incidents: people with minor injuries are treated first and counted later, and some people who were nearby may not seek medical help until hours after the blast.