Unknown gunmen in Derbent and Makhachkala in the Russian republic of Dagestan attacked two Orthodox churches, a synagogue and a traffic police post, killing civilians and police officers. Two fighters were killed, TASS reported.
According to official information, at least nine people have died so far, including police officers and a priest
Gunmen have killed a priest and a security guard at two churches in the North Caucasus republic. This was announced by the chairman of the Commission for Public Supervision of Dagestan, Shamil Khadulaev, on his Telegram channel.
Local authorities said “two militants” were killed in Makhachkala, where one of the attacks took place. The city is blocked by law enforcement.
The Investigative Committee has opened criminal proceedings for a terrorist act in connection with the attacks in Makhachkala and Derbent.
According to preliminary information, one policeman was killed and another was wounded in Derbent, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan reported.
A fire broke out in the synagogue in the Dagestan city of Derbent after an attack on it by unknown persons, the city hall announced.
An anti-terrorist operation regime has been introduced on the territory of Dagestan and measures are currently being taken to neutralize the armed individuals who carried out the attacks, the National Anti-Terrorist Committee said in a statement.
The head of the Sergokalinsky district of Dagestan, Magomed Omarov, was arrested in connection with the participation of his sons in the terrorist act in Makhachkala and Derbent, the Russian law enforcement authorities reported, quoted by TASS.
“Magomed Omarov was detained in connection with the fact that his sons participated in the attack in Makhachkala and Derbent,” said a representative of the local authorities.
What is known
In Makhachkala, two armed men with machine guns and armored vests arrived at Comintern Square and started shooting at police officers. They then attacked a church where they killed a security guard armed with a gas gun. The priest was found with his throat cut.
The rest of the terrorists, according to the SHOT channel close to the security forces, in Makhachkala barricaded themselves in one of the residential buildings, and in Derbent, the security forces blocked other participants in a cafe.
The central part of Derbent remained without electricity, there is a battle in the center of the city, NAC reports.
During a shootout in Makhachkala, one policeman was killed and six were wounded, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan reported. 23 people were injured.
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