Gunmen launched coordinated attacks on a synagogue, an Orthodox church, and a police post in Russia’s southernmost province of Dagestan on Sunday night.
According to local reports citing the province’s interior ministry, at least six police officers were killed and 12 others wounded.
The attacks occurred in Makhachkala, Dagestan’s largest city, and Derbent, a coastal city.
Gayana Gariyeva, the spokeswoman for Dagestan’s interior ministry, told RIA Novosti that a 66-year-old Russian Orthodox priest was among those killed. Two of the attackers have reportedly been killed.
A counter-terrorist operation is currently underway in Makhachkala and Derbent as authorities search for the remaining gunmen, stated Russia’s national anti-terrorist committee.
“Unidentified individuals fired automatic weapons at a synagogue and a church,” reported Reuters, citing the region’s interior ministry. “One police officer was killed and one injured.”
The interior ministry also reported that both the synagogue and the Orthodox church targeted in the attacks were set on fire.
In Makhachkala, about 75 miles north along the Caspian Sea coast, a second police officer was killed during a shootout at a police post, local media reported.
Borush Gorin, chairman of the public council of Russia’s Federation of Jewish Communities, confirmed on Telegram that the synagogue in Makhachkala had been set on fire.
There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, but some officials in Dagestan have accused Ukraine and NATO of involvement.
