Terrorists attack several locations in Russia’s Dagestan and kill six police officers and a priest

ISTANBUL

Unidentified terrorists attacked several locations in Russia’s republic of Dagestan on Sunday, including a synagogue, two churches, a roadside gas station and a police security checkpoint, killing at least six police officers and a priest and wounding 12 others, officials confirmed.

According to a statement by the Russian Interior Ministry, unknown armed individuals attacked the cities of Makhachkala and Derbent at around 15:00 (GMT).

The attackers targeted a police checkpoint in Makhachkala and two churches and a synagogue in Derbent, killing six police officers and injuring 12 others, the statement said.

Also mentioned was the death of a priest and the ongoing armed conflict between security forces and the attackers.

Video footage on social media shows that a fire broke out in the synagogue in Derbent.

Earlier, Shamil Chadulaev, deputy chairman of the Dagestan Public Monitoring Commission, said a clergyman and a security guard from an Orthodox church in Derbent and Makhachkala were killed in the attacks.

According to Gayan Garieva, head of the press service of the Dagestani Interior Ministry, the attackers reportedly used automatic weapons in the attack on the synagogue.

“At around 6 p.m. local time (15:00 GMT), unknown assailants fired automatic weapons at a synagogue and a church in Derbent,” she said.

According to local media reports, the synagogue and a police car caught fire in the attack.

Sputnik also reported that the suspects fled in a white Volkswagen Polo with license plate number 921.

It was added that almost simultaneously, unknown persons attacked a roadside gas station on a street in Makhachkala.

In response to the attacks, authorities in Makhachkala and Derbent imposed security lockdowns and stepped up efforts to detain the attackers.

The Russian Investigative Committee issued the following statement: “The Russian Investigative Committee in the Republic of Dagestan initiated a criminal case under Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (terrorist act) in connection with armed attacks in Derbent and Makhachkala, in which police officers and civilians were killed or injured.”

It further stated that the incident is currently being investigated and those responsible for the terrorist attacks are being identified.

“Investigators and forensic investigators are on site,” it said.

The Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news offered to AA News Broadcasting System (HAS) subscribers, in a summarized form. Please contact us regarding subscription options.