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Putin's Woes Mount With Deadly Moscow Restaurant Bombing

The Daily Beast · back to the audit

Three people were killed and 15 injured on Saturday evening when an explosion tore through an upscale Moscow restaurant where local reports said a top Russian general was celebrating his birthday.

An unidentified woman was said to have tried to bring the explosive into the restaurant, before being stopped by a security guard.

She approached with a box that she said contained a gift for the restaurant's guests, but as soon as the guard opened it, it exploded.

The restaurant had been closed for a private event celebrating the 55th birthday of General Alexander Chayko, the commander-in-chief of Russian Aerospace Forces, notorious for his alleged involvement in war crimes committed in Ukraine.

Those claims have not been officially confirmed, and other local reports cited witnesses who said a wedding reception had been underway.

The blast occurred around 8 p.m. local time at the Balzi Rossi restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square. Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee said an explosive device was to blame.