Gunmen attacked a synagogue and a church in southern Russia on Sunday afternoon, leaving at least six police officers and one priest dead, CNN reported.
The attack in the city of Derbent in Russia's southernmost Dagestan region was reportedly a coordinated attack. according to It is unclear whether the attacks on the two religious sites happened simultaneously, but video footage posted online appears to show the horrifying moments from the incident. (Related: Video of Putin and Kim Jong Un touring in a special limousine)
breaking news:
Terror attacks are continuing in Russia's Dagestan region, with gunmen dressed in all black opening fire on an Orthodox church and synagogue in the region, and engaging in combat with nearby police officers.According to local reports, five police officers were killed and nine… pic.twitter.com/ibCNVM4xSb
— Real News, No Bullshit (@NewsNotBs) June 23, 2024
Police footage of the shootout pic.twitter.com/J9dHKgZHzn
— Real News, No Bullshit (@NewsNotBs) June 23, 2024
The priests at the scene of the attack reportedly locked themselves inside the church, but another priest's throat was slit and a church security guard with a handgun was shot, Shamil Khadulaev, head of Dagestan's Public Monitoring Committee, confirmed to CNN.
“According to the information I received, Father Nikolai was killed by having his throat slit in a church in Derbent. He was 66 years old and seriously ill,” Khadulaev told the media.
Images circulated at a synagogue in the city showed the building in flames, while other video clips posted online showed gunfire in what appeared to be a shootout with Russian police.
BREAKING: 🇷🇺 Suspected terrorist attacks against Orthodox and Jewish synagogues in the Dagestan region of Russia. pic.twitter.com/tWwXTJRfrU
— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) June 23, 2024
A third gunman was reported to have attacked in the city of Makhachkala, about two hours north of Derbent, where a police traffic control station was shot up, CNN reported, citing local authorities. Twelve police officers were wounded, but it was unclear where the officers were attacked.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry spoke out about the incident, claiming that a second synagogue had been attacked in Makhachkala and calling it a “complex attack,” CNN reported.
“A synagogue in Derbent was set on fire and burned to the ground. A local security guard was killed. A synagogue in Makhachkala was shot at, but further details are unavailable,” the statement said, according to CNN.
“As far as is known, there were no worshippers in the synagogue at the time of the attack and no casualties have been confirmed within the Jewish community.”
Officials confirmed that two of the militants were killed during the incident, but their identities have yet to be confirmed, the media said.
