Multiple religious buildings and a traffic police station in Russia's Dagestan region were targeted in attacks on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of a priest and at least seven security personnel, including six local policemen. A counter-terrorism operation has been initiated in response to the incidents, with ongoing exchanges of gunfire and some locations engulfed in flames.
The assaults occurred in Makhachkala, the regional capital, and Derbent. The perpetrators have been identified by Russian authorities as members of an "international terrorist organization," although specific details have not been disclosed. Initial reports indicated that unidentified attackers fired upon the religious structures in Makhachkala using automatic weapons before fleeing in a vehicle.
Subsequent clashes near the church in Makhachkala were intense, with unconfirmed claims of approximately 40 hostages inside. Additionally, a traffic police station in Makhachkala experienced casualties among law enforcement personnel. The fatalities among police officers were reported in both Makhachkala and Derbent.
A 66-year-old Orthodox priest lost his life in the assault on the church in Derbent, with allegations that the attackers fatally wounded him. The synagogue in Derbent was also targeted, leading to concerns that assailants might still be present within the burning structure, where gunfire persisted.
Videos circulated on social media captured the attack on police officers in Derbent, showcasing intense gunfire exchanges and law enforcement responses. Witnesses in central Derbent reported ongoing gunfire, indicating a continuous confrontation between local authorities and the assailants near the Orthodox church.
Local Muslim leaders have denounced the violence, with the North Caucasus Muslim Coordination Council chief condemning the attackers as "brutal and hateful beasts." Chechen Republic chief Ramzan Kadyrov labeled the assaults a "villainous provocation" intended to stoke religious discord.