Gunmen launched a coordinated terror attack on Sunday, targeting two synagogues, an Orthodox church, and a police post in the coastal city of Derbent and the largest city in Dagestan, Makhachkala. The assailants killed a priest and six police officers, while at least a dozen others sustained injuries. Russian media outlets reported that the attacks were suspected to be a result of a well-planned and synchronized operation.
Following the initial assaults, subsequent shootouts with law enforcement resulted in the deaths of four gunmen. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has opened a terrorism investigation into the attacks, aiming to establish the circumstances and identities of those involved.
Shamil Khadulaev, chairman of the Public Monitoring Commission of Dagestan, identified one of the victims as a 66-year-old priest named Father Nikolay. Khadulaev revealed that Father Nikolay was brutally killed inside the church in Derbent, with his throat slit. Another church security guard, armed with a pistol, was also shot during the attack. The remaining priests sought refuge in a secure area until the arrival of the police.
The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed that two synagogues were targeted in what they described as a combined attack. The synagogue in Derbent was set ablaze and burned to the ground, resulting in the death of local guards. The synagogue in Makhachkala was attacked by gunfire, but further details are yet to be disclosed. Fortunately, no casualties from the Jewish community have been reported as the temples were unoccupied at the time of the assault.
While the responsible party has not claimed responsibility for the attacks, concerns have arisen regarding a potential second ISIS-K assault in Russia. This follows the Crocus City concert hall shooting in March, which claimed the lives of over 140 individuals. However, some Russian officials have attempted to shift blame onto Ukraine and NATO, suggesting a connection between the attacks and their intelligence services.
The exact number of officers killed and injured in each attack remains unclear. Initial reports indicated that at least one officer was shot and killed during the fire that engulfed Derbent, a town recognized as a UNESCO heritage site.
2 Responses
I remember reading about a similar incident that happened in my city a few years ago. It was a horrifying experience that left the entire community shaken.
I was attending a religious service at my local synagogue when suddenly, we heard loud gunshots outside. Panic spread through the congregation as we realized that we were under attack. The gunmen had targeted our synagogue, along with several other places of worship in the area.
People started screaming and running for cover. I remember feeling a mix of fear and disbelief. It
This terror attack can be likened to a dark storm that swept through the peaceful towns, leaving destruction and fear in its wake. Just as a storm targets different areas with its powerful winds and torrential rain, the gunmen targeted multiple locations, aiming to spread chaos and terror. The synagogues, church, and police post were like vulnerable structures caught in the path of the storm, unable to withstand the force of the attack. The aftermath of this tragic event is akin to the aftermath of a storm