Police officers and a priest dead
Attackers shoot at synagogues and churches in Dagestan
23.06.2024, 20:31
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
In two cities in the Russian republic of Dagestan, unknown assailants opened fire on places of worship of various religions. A police station was also attacked. Russian authorities reported six dead and dozens injured police officers. A priest was also a victim of the attack.
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. 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. The Interfax news agency later reported, citing security agencies, that 6 police officers were dead and 23 injured. Two attackers are also said to have been killed in the exchange of fire. 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.