Rome, 24 June 2024 – The death toll from the virus continues to risearmed attack in the Russian region of Dagestan: hit a place of policeone church it’s a synagogue. I’m more than 15 policemen diedwhile anti-terrorism law enforcement officers killed six are the alleged attackers after the raid on the two places of worship.
Among the victims alsoand many civiliansamong which father Nikolai, the historic parish priest of the Orthodox church of Derbent. The search for possible accomplices involved in yesterday’s attack in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala.
Six attackers killed: accomplices sought
“Six gunmen were killed. Further operational search and investigative actions will continue until all participants in the sleeper cells, which were certainly prepared mainly from abroad, are discovered,” said the governor of Dagestan, Sergey Melikov, quoted by the Russian news agency Tass. “The situation after the attacks that took place in Makhachkala and Derbent is now under the control of the authorities and law enforcement agencies,” Melikov added.
The death toll rises
“More than 15 police officers were victims of the terrorist act, while protecting the peace and tranquility of Dagestan”, said Melikov in a video published on the Telegram channel and quoted by Tass. Several civilians also lost their lives in the attack, including father Nikolaiwho served for more than forty years in the Derbent Orthodox Church.
International reactions
The president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, expressed his condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the terrorist attacks against Orthodox churches and a synagogue. “The President offered assistance in the search activities conducted by Kazakhstan’s law enforcement agencies,” the statement read.
Tokayev strongly condemned the attacks as inhumane and underlined Kazakhstan’s commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts under the auspices of the UN and other international organizations.
