New Delhi: An Attack in Russia’s North Caucasus region of Dagestan on Sunday left 15 people including a priest and a policeman dead as per a statement from the governor of the region.
The attacks took place in Dagestan’s largest city Makhachkala and the coastal city of Derbent. Governor Sergei Melikov called it a terrorist attack as per the NDTV report. As per Melikov, among those dead are many in addition to the police officers are many civilians, including an orthodox priest who worked in Derbant for more than 40 years.
Melikov on Telegram said, “This evening in Derbent and Makhachkala unknown (attackers) made attempts to destabilise the situation in society”. He also added “We know who is behind these terrorist attacks and what objective they are pursuing” as he referred to the Russia-Ukraine war as per NDTV.
He also said, “We must understand that war comes to our homes too. We felt it, but today we face it”. Melikov said that the operations in Derbent and Makhachkala and six bandits have been neutralised. He further added that the authorities will try and find the people who are responsible for the attack.
🚨🇷🇺RUSSIA: GUNMEN ATTACK ORTHODOX TEMPLE AND SYNAGOGUE
Gunmen opened fire on a synagogue and Orthodox Church in Derbent in the Republic of Dagestan, leading to a fire breaking out at the synagogue.
Additionally, a police checkpoint in Makhachkala was targeted by gunfire,… pic.twitter.com/1WpMPy7wRk
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 23, 2024
He also said that June 24-26 have been declared days of mourning in Dagestan, with flags lowered to half-staff and all entertainment events cancelled. Russian investigative Committee said that it had opened criminal probes over acts of terror in Dagestan and nobody till now has claimed responsibility for these attacks.
The Russian state media cited the law enforcement that among the attackers there were two sons of the head of central Dagestan’s Sergokala district, who had been detained. In Derbent, authorities were quoted saying that both the synagogue and church were set on fire.
