Over fifteen Russian police officers and several civilians were killed in seemingly coordinated assaults on synagogues in Makhackala and Derbent.
On Sunday, June 23, gunmen attacked synagogues, churches and a police checkpoint in two Dagestani cities in a seemingly coordinated attack. Over fifteen Russian police officers and several civilians lost their lives, including an Orthodox priest. The Jewish community has not yet reported injuries, reports The Times of Israel.
The attacks were carried out at two synagogues and two churches in Derbent and Makhachkala, a predominantly Muslim region of Russia neighbouring Chechnya. Derbent is home to an ancient Jewish community and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Orthodox priest Nikolai Kotelnikov was „brutally killed „in Derbent, along with a Russian National Guard officer.
The Anti-Terrorist Committee said five gunmen were „eliminated” after local authorities declared a counter-terror operation, while Governor Sergei Melikov said six „bandits” had been „liquidated.” It wasn’t clear how many assailants were involved in the attacks.
According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, shots were fired at the synagogues in Derbent and Makhachkala, but luckily, both buildings were empty at the time of the attacks. The rabbi of Makhachkala, Rami Davidov, later confirmed that no one was killed or injured at the synagogue.
The Russian Jewish Congress said that the Derbent synagogue was attacked about 40 minutes before evening prayers when gunmen fired at police and security guards and threw in Molotov cocktails. The organisation added that the attack in Makhachkala was similar.
Both synagogues were set ablaze. The fire at the Derbent synagogue has not been able to be extinguished, and the synagogue in Makhachkala has burnt down. Russian state media said the church next to the synagogue in Derbent was also set on fire.
Russia’s Investigative Committee said it had opened criminal probes over „acts of terror.” The head of the Dagestan Republic, Sergey Melikov, said that an operational headquarters had been set up to aid in the investigation and determine the attackers’ identities.
Melikov vowed stiff punishment for „whichever forces lie behind these disgusting actions,” adding that „we understand who is behind the organisation of the terrorist attacks and what goal they pursued,” without disclosing further details.
Terror operatives from Dagestan are known to have travelled to join IS in Syria, and in 2015, the group declared it had established a „franchise” in the North Caucasus.
Last October, hundreds of antisemitic rioters stormed Dagestan’s main airport in an attempt to confront Jewish passengers aboard a flight from Israel.
Globe Eye News on X (formerly Twitter): „BREAKING: A terrorist attack on a Jewish synagogue and a church in Russia’s Dagestan. Five police officers were killed, and nine more were injured. pic.twitter.com/NnowMks4pR / X”
BREAKING: A terrorist attack on a Jewish synagogue and a church in Russia’s Dagestan. Five police officers were killed, and nine more were injured. pic.twitter.com/NnowMks4pR
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