Three dead as blast rocks Moscow cafe – officials

At least three people have been killed and 15 others wounded in an explosion at a cafe in central Moscow, according to police.

“According to preliminary information, an explosion occurred near an outdoor cafe at around 8:10 pm local time, killing three people and leaving 15 others with injuries of varying severity, “ the Moscow department of the Interior Ministry’s press service said on Saturday.

Police are working at the scene near Building 1 on Kudrinskaya Square, it added.

According to the SHOT Telegram channel, the blast occurred at the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant, which had been reserved for a wedding and was serving around 50 people. According to one version, the cause of the explosion was a gas leak, the channel claimed. Meanwhile, the restaurant wrote on social media that it is “doing fine” and thanked “everyone for your words of support and your concern.”

Videos from the scene show dozens of emergency vehicles working at the site.

Investigators and forensic experts are examining the scene, the Russian Investigative Committee said.

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