On Sunday, June 23, a series of coordinated attacks occurred in the Republic of Dagestan in southern Russia, resulting in the deaths of 6 police officers and a priest, with 12 officers injured.
Dagestan is one of the federal subjects of Russia, located in the North Caucasus Federal District.
According to CNN, a series of attacks took place at an Eastern Orthodox church and a Jewish synagogue in the city of Derbent, as well as a police traffic post and another Jewish synagogue in the city of Makhachkala. Local authorities reported that apart from the 6 officers killed, 12 others were injured. The two cities are approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) apart.
On Sunday, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti cited the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan, stating that two “militants” had been killed after the attacks.
Shamil Khadulaev, Chairman of the Public Oversight Committee of Dagestan, mentioned that a priest was killed in the attack on the Eastern Orthodox church in Derbent.
He also mentioned that a security guard armed only with a handgun inside the church was shot. Other priests locked themselves inside the church awaiting rescue.
Simultaneously, a fire broke out in the Jewish synagogue, with thick smoke billowing out of the windows.
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While the attacks on the Eastern Orthodox church and the Jewish synagogue took place, a police traffic post in Makhachkala was also attacked, indicating a coordinated assault. The identities of the attackers have not been confirmed, but Dagestan has been a location where Islamic militants have conducted attacks in the past. Currently, the police are still pursuing more gunmen.
The Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Dagestan, Russia stated that a terrorism investigation has been launched based on the Russian Federation Criminal Code regarding the attack.
“We are investigating all the circumstances of the event and the individuals involved in the terrorist attack, and their actions will be legally assessed,” the Investigative Department wrote in a statement.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a statement that in this series of attacks in Russia, two Jewish synagogues were targeted. The statement mentioned that a Jewish synagogue in Derbent was set on fire, while another in Makhachkala was shot at, with no further details available at the moment.
“It is understood that there were no worshipers present inside the synagogues during the attacks, and there were no known casualties from the Jewish community,” the statement added.