According to reports, on August 1, local time, Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee confirmed that the incident at a restaurant in Moscow’s city center was caused by a homemade explosive device.
Officials said a woman attempted to enter the restaurant carrying the explosive device but was stopped by security at the door. The device then went off, killing both the woman and the security guard instantly. Sadly, a customer also lost their life in the blast, bringing the total death toll to three, with 21 others injured.
“We were strolling through the zoo when we heard the explosion. At first, we didn’t think it was a bomb—figured it was just metal being unloaded or something falling over. So we kept walking around, not feeling panicked at all. Then the zoo shut down and we had to leave. By the time we got out, rescue teams were already on the scene—they got there incredibly fast.” That’s how Anton, a Moscow resident, described the experience in an interview.
The restaurant where the explosion took place is located in the iconic Kudrinskaya Square building, one of Moscow’s most famous landmarks.
The Kudrinskaya Square building is one of the “Seven Sisters” skyscrapers in Moscow, completed back in 1954. It’s also a filming location for the beloved Soviet film “Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears.” The building houses 452 apartments, and nearly a thousand people still call it home today.
This explosion happened right in the heart of Moscow, surrounded by the Moscow Zoo and several metro stations, making it an incredibly busy area with heavy foot traffic.
Russian security forces have already sealed off the scene. Based on initial assessments, the incident doesn’t pose any threat to the structural integrity of the Kudrinskaya building itself.
