Gunmen attacked religious buildings in Russia’s North Caucasus region of Dagestan on Sunday, killing several people. The attacks took place in the cities of Makhachkala and Derbent, causing the deaths of at least seven police officers, a National Guard officer, and a priest.
The attacks targeted two Orthodox churches, a synagogue, and a police checkpoint. Gunfights continued throughout Sunday evening in both Makhachkala, the largest city in Dagestan, and the coastal city of Derbent. The Russian Investigative Committee has launched criminal investigations into these “acts of terror.”
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Dagestan’s interior ministry reported that six officers were killed and 12 others were wounded. One local police chief later died from his injuries. The Russian National Guard also confirmed the death of one of its officers in Derbent and reported that several others were wounded. A 66-year-old Orthodox priest, Nikolai Kotelnikov, who served in Derbent for over 40 years, was among the dead.
In a separate incident, attackers shot at a police car in the village of Sergokal, about 65 kilometers from Makhachkala, wounding one officer. The situation remained tense with continued shooting in the streets and ongoing danger.
The attacks occurred on Pentecost Sunday, a significant religious holiday for the Russian Orthodox Church. Both the synagogue in Derbent and Makhachkala were set on fire. The fire in the Derbent synagogue could not be extinguished due to fears that terrorists were still inside. The synagogue in Makhachkala was completely burned down.
Dagestan’s leader, Sergei Melikov, stated that the attackers aimed to destabilize the region but were met with resistance from local police. A source from the state news agency indicated that the gunmen were supporters of an unnamed international terrorist organization.
Dagestan has a history of violence involving Islamist militants. In April, Russia’s FSB security service arrested four people in Dagestan for allegedly planning an attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall, which was claimed by the Islamic State group.
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Militants from Dagestan have previously joined IS in Syria, and the group declared a “franchise” in the North Caucasus in 2015.
Dagestan borders Chechnya, where Russia fought two brutal wars against separatists in the 1990s and early 2000s. Although the Chechen insurgents were defeated, Russian authorities continue to face sporadic violence from Islamist militants in the North Caucasus, resulting in numerous civilian and police casualties.
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