The number of deaths has increased after attackers attacked synagogues, Orthodox churches and a police station with automatic weapons in Russia’s Muslim republic of Dagestan. At least 15 police officers were killed, Governor Sergei Melikov said in a video message early Monday morning. Two civilians were also killed: a Christian Orthodox priest and a guard.
Unidentified people opened fire at places of worship and the police station on Sunday. An anti-terrorist operation followed in which at least fifteen officers were killed. “The emergency services and security bodies responded quickly, but unfortunately this was not without casualties,” Makhachkala Mayor Yusup Umavov said on Monday evening.
Also killed several attackers
The number of injured is also high: 16 people were admitted as spies. According to Melikov, six murderers were killed. The investigative committee reported that only five attackers had been killed.
The attacks on Sunday evening took place in parallel. Synagogues were attacked in the southern Russian city of Derbent and in the regional capital Makhachkala, the Russian Jewish Congress said. In Derbent a synagogue was set on fire and severely damaged. Two Orthodox churches were also targeted by the attackers. A police station was targeted in Makhachkala.
Makhachkala was closed
According to authorities, the active phase of the anti-terrorist operation was declared that night. It is not clear whether all perpetrators have been caught. Makhachkala was placed under lockdown due to the ongoing terrorist threat; the exits from the city were closed. Security forces in neighboring Russian republics were alerted.
Governor Melikov sees the series of attacks as an attempt to destabilize the situation in the region. It is one of the poorest regions in Russia. Ten percent of Russian Muslims live here.
Source: Krone
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