A devastating terrorist attack on a Jewish synagogue and an Orthodox church in Russia’s Dagestan region has resulted in the deaths of at least 19 people, including a priest and several police officers. The attacks, which occurred on Sunday in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala, also left 12 people injured.
According to local officials, gunmen targeted the religious buildings and a police post, setting the synagogue on fire and causing widespread destruction. The attacks coincided with the Russian Orthodox Church’s festival of Pentecost.
The Investigative Committee has launched criminal investigations into the “acts of terror” and reported that five attackers were “liquidated” in the incident. The National Antiterrorism Committee confirmed that a priest from the Russian Orthodox Church and police officers were among the victims.
The attacks have raised concerns about the security situation in Dagestan, a region that neighbors Chechnya and is one of the poorest areas of Russia. The incident has sparked outrage and condemnation from local authorities and religious leaders.
