by Editorial Staff
Attacks on police officers, churches and synagogues in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Dagestan on Sunday, June 23, left many people dead. Armed men targeted the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala during the Orthodox holiday of Pentecost. The victims included at least 15 police officers, a priest and a security guard. Six of the attackers are dead and police are looking for more. The attackers have not yet been identified, but Dagestan has been the scene of Islamic attacks in the past.
Two churches and two synagogues were targeted in Sunday’s attacks. A priest of the Orthodox Church was killed in Makhachkala, the largest city in Dagestan. The priest was iidentified as Nikolai Kotelnikov.
The figure of 15 police officers killed it was provided by the Dagestan republican leader Sergei Melikov. Footage posted on social media shows people dressed in dark clothing firing at police cars, before a convoy of emergency services vehicles arrive at the scene. In Derbent – home to an ancient Jewish community – armed men attacked a synagogue and a church, which were then set on fire. An unofficial channel on the messaging app Telegram, Mash, said armed men were barricaded in a building in Derbent. A police vehicle was attacked in the village of Sergokal. Police arrested Magomed Omarov, head of the Sergokalinsky district near Makhachkala, following reports that two of his sons were among those who carried out Sunday’s attacks.
Derbent is home to an ancient Jewish community and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Sunday evening that shots were fired at a synagogue in Derbent and a synagogue in Makhachkala. He added that he was not aware of any injuries in the Jewish community and that both buildings were empty at the time of the attacks.
The rabbi of Makhachkala, Rami Davidov, then said to RIA Novosti that no one was killed or injured there. The synagogue of Derbent was set on fire.
“The synagogue is on fire,” Dagestan’s official state press service said in an update on Sunday’s attack, which authorities say was work of jihadist extremists. Two people, both security officers, have died following the attack in Derbent, it reports Interfax.
The footage of the burning synagogue published on Carmel Newsa channel Telegramshows high flames completely engulfing the red brick building of Derbent’s synagogue and Jewish community center, built in 2010.
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Top image: Derbent synagogue in flames (Screenshot: X, in accordance with clause 27a – Copyright Law)
