BREAKING: GUNMEN ATTACK SYNAGOGUE AND CHURCH IN RUSSIA’S DAGESTAN, KILLING PRIEST AND POLICEMAN

Sun 23 June 2024:

A priest and a policeman were killed after gunmen armed with automatic weapons attacked a synagogue and a church in Derbent, Dagestan, on Sunday evening.

In what appears to be a coordinated assault, a police officer was also injured when a traffic post was fired upon in Makhachkala, Dagestan.

Attack Details

According to Shamil Khadulaev, Chairman of the Dagestan Public Monitoring Commission, the priest, Father Nikolay, was killed in the church attack in Derbent, with his throat slit. The priest was 66 years old and reportedly very ill. A security guard at the church, armed only with a pistol, was also shot, and additional priests have locked themselves in the church, awaiting help.

Simultaneously, the synagogue in Derbent was set on fire, with large flames and heavy smoke billowing from the windows.

BREAKING: 🇷🇺 Suspected terrorist attack against an Orthodox Church and Jewish Synagogue in Russia’s Dagestan region. pic.twitter.com/tWwXTJRfrU

— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) June 23, 2024

Shooting still heard in Derbent, Dagestan region – reports pic.twitter.com/LR5WZe6zuA

— RT (@RT_com) June 23, 2024

Casualties and Response

Preliminary reports from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan indicate that at least one police officer was killed and another injured in the attacks. The exact status of the attackers remains unclear.

In Makhachkala, a police traffic post was also attacked, resulting in one officer being injured.

Sergey Melikov, head of the Dagestan Republic, issued a statement on Telegram saying that unknown persons attempted to destabilize the social situation, but Dagestan police intervened. An operational headquarters has been established, and a counteroperation plan, “Interception,” is underway.

❗️Derbent synagogue fire contained – local reports

Details: https://t.co/w7EgiCdHKB pic.twitter.com/aVXu4zcTuG

— RT (@RT_com) June 23, 2024

Footage of the men responsible for the attack pic.twitter.com/D1SYKn6bRn

— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) June 23, 2024

Five #Russian police officers have so far been killed by the terrorists in #Derbent & #Makhachkala, #Dagestan district of #Russia. pic.twitter.com/jZDbOk89SQ

— Babak Taghvaee – The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) June 23, 2024

Investigation and Public Appeal

The Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Republic of Dagestan has launched a terror investigation into the attacks. The committee is working to establish all the circumstances and individuals involved, promising a legal assessment of their actions.

Melikov urged the public to remain calm, emphasizing that panic and fear were the attackers’ goals, and Dagestanis would not succumb to them.

Derbent is home to the ancient Jewish community in the North Caucasus region, which is primarily Muslim.

More to follow…

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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