An explosion at an elite Moscow restaurant killed three people and wounded at least 15 on Friday, according to Russian media reports citing the country’s Interior Ministry.
Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee said a homemade explosive device detonated at the entrance to the Balzi Rossi restaurant. A woman attempted to bring the device inside but was stopped by a security guard. The blast killed the woman, the guard who turned her away, and one other visitor, the committee said.
The restaurant had been closed for a private banquet, according to the outlet ASTRA, which cited local online chats saying a general was being celebrated there. A witness told ASTRA that many vehicles with black military licence plates were parked near the restaurant, along with a Rosgvardiya bus.
Russian opposition journalist Oleg Kashin suggested the guest of honour may have been Colonel-General Alexander Chaiko, commander-in-chief of Russia’s Aerospace Forces, whose birthday falls at the end of July. Opposition blogger Yan Matveyev noted that Major-General Vladimir Seliverstov of the Airborne Forces and Lieutenant-General Alexander Yaroshevich, head of the Defence Ministry’s transport department, also have birthdays on the same day.
A Telegram channel affiliated with the Interior Ministry reported 17 wounded and said the gathering was a wedding, and also claimed the blast was caused by a gas leak.
