Gunmen attack synagogues and churches in Russia

Gunmen opened fire on places of worship in two towns in Russia’s North Caucasus region of Dagestan on Sunday, killing several people, including an Orthodox priest and police officers, officials said.

The gunmen opened fire on synagogues, churches and a police station in the cities of Makhachkala and Derbent in the Republic of Dagestan – a predominantly Muslim region on the Caspian Sea, according to the authorities. The exact number of shooters and victims involved in the attacks was initially unclear.

Dagestan Governor Sergei Melikov said in a video message early Monday that six of the gunmen in the two cities had been “liquidated,” while the National Anti-Terrorism Committee said five attackers had been “eliminated,” Russian state news agencies reported.

More than 15 police officers and several civilians, including an Orthodox priest who had served in Derbent for over 40 years, were killed in the attacks, according to Melikov. The governor declared Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday days of mourning in the region. Flags were flown at half-mast and all entertainment events were canceled.

“This is a day of tragedy for Dagestan and the whole country,” Melikov said in the video statement published on the messaging app Telegram.

Dagestan has been hit by waves of violence in the past, but attacks have become less frequent in recent years. The mountainous region was hit by an Islamist insurgency in the 2000s that spilled over from neighboring Chechnya and was crushed in 2017, according to Russian intelligence.

The attacks also follow recent extremist violence in the country. In March, four gunmen killed 145 people in a concert hall. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, which was Russia’s worst terrorist attack in years.

Last October, hundreds of Dagestanis rioted at Makhachkala airport, searching for Israeli citizens and Jews who had just flown in from Tel Aviv.

Gunmen attacked several places of worship

Although no one directly claimed responsibility for the attacks, Melikov said the authorities “understand who is behind the organization of the terrorist attacks and what goal they are pursuing.” The governor did not provide further details.

Russian media reported that gunfire had erupted in the center of Makhachkala. The Interior Ministry said exits to the Caspian Sea port were closed during the violence. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said gunmen opened fire on a synagogue in Makhachkala.

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