Religion Attacks
Gunmen Kill Police, Priest in Attacks on Places of Worship in Russia’s Dagestan
The attacks have also left 25 others injured, some critically.
Dagestan, Russia– In a series of coordinated attacks on Sunday, gunmen targeted places of worship and a police post in the Russian republic of Dagestan, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. The attacks, which took place in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala, have left the region in shock and mourning.
According to local authorities, the assailants attacked a synagogue and an Orthodox church in Derbent, as well as a police traffic post in Makhachkala. The violence has claimed the lives of at least 17 individuals, including law enforcement officers and a priest. The attacks have also left 25 others injured, some critically.
The first attack occurred in Derbent, a city known for its ancient Jewish community. Gunmen opened fire on a synagogue, setting it ablaze. Photos from the scene showed large flames and thick smoke billowing from the building. Fortunately, there were no worshippers inside the synagogue at the time of the attack, and no casualties from the Jewish community have been reported.
Simultaneously, an Orthodox church in Derbent was also targeted. Father Nikolay Kotelnikov, a 66-year-old priest, was brutally killed in the attack. Shamil Khadulaev, Chairman of the Dagestan Public Monitoring Commission, reported that Father Nikolay had his throat slit. A security guard at the church, armed only with a pistol, was also shot and killed.
In Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, gunmen attacked a police traffic post, resulting in the deaths of several law enforcement officers. Among the victims was Mavludin Khidirnabiev, the head of the “Dagestan Lights” police department. The attackers also targeted a synagogue in Makhachkala, but no casualties were reported from this incident.
The head of the Dagestan Republic, Sergey Melikov, condemned the attacks and described them as attempts to destabilize the region. In a message on Telegram, Melikov stated, “Unknown persons made attempts to destabilize the social situation. Dagestan police officers stood in their way. According to preliminary information, there are victims among them.”
Melikov announced that an operational headquarters had been set up and a counteroperation plan, codenamed “Interception,” was underway. He urged the public to remain calm, emphasizing that panic and fear were the attackers' primary objectives.
The Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Republic of Dagestan has launched a terror investigation into the attacks. The committee stated that all circumstances of the incident and the persons involved in the terrorist attacks are being established, and their actions will be given a legal assessment.
Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim region in Russia’s North Caucasus, has a history of violence and insurgency. The region experienced a decline in attacks in recent years following the suppression of an Islamist insurgency from neighboring Chechnya by Russia's Federal Security Service in 2017. However, the recent attacks underscore the ongoing challenges posed by terrorism and extremism in the region.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry described the attacks on the synagogues as a “combined attack” and confirmed that the synagogue in Derbent was set on fire and burned to the ground. The ministry also noted that there were no worshippers in the synagogues at the time of the attacks.
Governor Melikov declared three days of mourning in the region, expressing profound sorrow for the loss. He hinted at having insights into the orchestrators and their motives but did not provide specific details. Russian media reported that six gunmen were “neutralized” in the two cities, with the National Anti-Terrorist Committee confirming the elimination of five attackers.
The tragic events in Dagestan have left a deep scar on the community, highlighting the persistent threat of terrorism in the region. As authorities continue their investigation and counteroperations, the people of Dagestan are left to mourn the loss of their loved ones and seek solace in the face of such senseless violence.