In a series of violent attacks across Russia’s Dagestan province, at least nine individuals have died and 25 have been injured, as reported by local authorities. The coordinated assaults targeted churches, synagogues, and a police traffic checkpoint in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala, which are approximately 120 kilometers apart.
The casualties include seven law enforcement officers, a priest, and a church security guard. Russian news agency TASS also reported that four militants involved in the attacks have been killed.
Tragic details emerged from the city of Derbent, where Dagestan Public Monitoring Commission Chairman Shamil Khadulaev reported the brutal murder of Father Nikolay, a 66-year-old priest, inside a church. Additionally, a security guard at the same church was fatally shot.
In Makhachkala, a dramatic scene unfolded at a church where 19 people barricaded themselves inside during a shootout, resulting in the death of at least one attacker, as per TASS citing local authorities.
Simultaneously, significant damage occurred at a synagogue in Derbent, which was set ablaze, leading to large flames and smoke seen billowing from the building. Another synagogue in Makhachkala faced gunfire during these attacks.
The Israeli foreign ministry has commented on the incidents, describing them as a “combined attack” on two synagogues. They confirmed the total destruction of the Derbent synagogue and noted attacks at the Makhachkala synagogue but reported no casualties among the Jewish community at the time of the attacks.
Sergey Melikov, the head of the Dagestan Republic, addressed the public via Telegram, describing these acts as attempts to destabilize the region. He reassured the public, emphasizing that local police officers are actively responding to these threats and that a special operation, “Interception,” is underway to manage the situation and identify the perpetrators.
To further address the severity of these incidents, the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Republic of Dagestan has initiated a terror investigation under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, aiming to uncover all involved parties and provide a legal assessment of the attacks.
