Gunmen have carried out simultaneous attacks in the Russian region of Dagestan, targeting a synagogue, two Orthodox churches, and a police post. The attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 15 police officers and a priest, according to Sergei Melikov, the governor of Dagestan.
The city of Derbent was the site of the synagogue attack, which also saw nearby Orthodox churches being shot at. A police officer and a priest were killed in this incident. Footage from social media showed the gunmen engaged in heavy gunfire with the police, and the synagogue was set on fire. In the capital city of Makhachkala, a group opened fire on the police, killing at least one officer and injuring six others. No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet. The region is known for its history of Islamist insurgency, but attacks have become less frequent in recent years. Russia’s Federal Security Service declared in 2017 that the insurgency in the region had been defeated. However, the recent series of Islamist terrorist attacks in Russia has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the country’s security agencies. Last week, Russian special forces freed two guards and killed six men linked to the Islamic State who had taken them hostage. Dagestan has also witnessed a number of antisemitic incidents in the past, including a mob storming the airport in Makhachkala in search of Jewish passengers. The investigation into the attacks in Dagestan is ongoing.
