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At least three people have been killed and 21 injured after a homemade explosive device was detonated at an Italian restaurant in Moscow, Russian state media quotes security officials as saying.<\/b><\/p>\n
The blast happened at around 20:00 local time (17:00 GMT) on Kudrinskaya square near the city centre. <\/p>\n
The National Anti-Terrorist Committee (NAK) said a woman carrying the explosives tried to enter the restaurant but was stopped by a security guard. The device detonated, killing the woman, the guard and a visitor to the restaurant.<\/p>\n
The restaurant, located in one of Moscow’s famous Stalin-era skyscrapers, had been holding a private function.<\/p>\n
Authorities have not disclosed the guest list or said anything about who they believe was the target of the attack.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said they saw people being brought out covered in blood after the explosion.<\/p>\n
Initial reports said the blast happened in the establishment’s kitchen but the restaurant later issued a statement saying “there was a problem outside”.<\/p>\n
Roads around the square were briefly closed. Dozens of cyclists had been gathering nearby for an evening ride through the city but the event was cancelled.<\/p>\n
Video released by Russia’s RIA news agency showed heavily armed law enforcement officers at the scene, which had been closed off to members of the public.<\/p>\n
In recent years, several senior Russian military figures have been assassinated in and around the Russian capital. Moscow has blamed Kyiv<\/a> for those attacks. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n