Several people were killed and injured in a series of attacks in the Russian republic of Dagestan in the North Caucasus. Unknown assailants opened fire on a synagogue in the southern Russian city of Derbent, the state news agency Tass reported on Sunday. An Orthodox church was also shot at. A fire broke out in the synagogue after an exchange of gunfire. At the same time, a police station and another church were attacked in the regional capital of Makhachkala, more than 100 kilometers away.
“According to preliminary information, an Orthodox priest and several police officers were killed in the terrorist attacks,” the Russian Investigative Committee announced. Russian news agencies also reported seven injured police officers. Later, the Interfax news agency, citing security agencies, reported six dead and 23 injured police officers. Two attackers were also said to have been killed in the exchange of fire. According to reports, a church employee was also killed. The manhunt for the fugitive perpetrators is ongoing. The authorities have opened criminal proceedings.
The governor of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, described the attack on Telegram as an attempt to destabilize the situation in the region. Dagestan, which is predominantly Islamic, is one of the poorest regions in Russia. The Russian republic also borders Chechnya.
