Gunmen launched attacks in two cities within Russia’s north Caucasus region of Dagestan, targeting multiple locations including a synagogue, two Orthodox churches, and a police post, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 police officers and a priest, according to the region’s governor.
“This is a day of tragedy for Dagestan and the whole country,” Sergei Melikov, the governor of Dagestan, stated in a video shared on the Telegram messaging app early Monday.
In Derbent, a city known for its Jewish community in the predominantly Muslim region, gunmen attacked a synagogue.
Russia’s state media outlet Tass reported that the attackers also fired upon two nearby Orthodox churches, resulting in the deaths of a police officer and a priest.
Footage shared on social media from Derbent showed intense exchanges of gunfire between the gunmen and police.
Officials confirmed that the synagogue was set ablaze, with video clips showing flames emerging from the building, a UNESCO heritage site.
Simultaneously, another group opened fire on police in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, approximately 75 miles north along the Caspian Sea coast.
Local authorities reported that at least one police officer was killed and six others were injured in this attack.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Melikov commented, “We understand who is behind the organisation of the terrorist attacks and what goal they pursued,” but did not provide additional details.
State media sources mentioned that two sons of the head of central Dagestan’s Sergokala district were among the attackers and have been detained by investigators.
Melikov confirmed that in addition to the police officers, several civilians, including an Orthodox priest who had served in Derbent for over 40 years, were among the deceased.
During the incidents, six gunmen were killed according to Melikov, though the National Anti-Terrorist Committee, as reported by a Russian state news agency, claimed the number was five.
Independent verification of the exact number of casualties was not immediately possible.
Russia’s investigative committee has classified the shootings as terrorist attacks and has initiated an investigation.
Governor Melikov declared June 24-26 as days of mourning in Dagestan, with flags lowered to half-staff and all entertainment events canceled.
Dagestan, which experienced an Islamist insurgency in the 2000s, has seen a decrease in attacks in recent years.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed in 2017 to have defeated the insurgency in the region.
However, recent events have raised concerns about security lapses.
In March, the Islamic State Khorasan Province claimed responsibility for a mass shooting at a Moscow concert hall, the deadliest terror attack in years, killing 139 people.
Last week, Russian special forces killed six men linked to IS who had taken hostages in Rostov.
Dagestan has also faced antisemitic incidents, including an incident last year when a mob stormed the airport in Makhachkala searching for Jewish passengers arriving from Israel.
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