News
More than a dozen killed in synagogue, church attacks in Russia�s Dagestan

Civilians and a priest among the dead as gunmen attack religious buildings
in Derbent and a Makhachkala police post.
People gathered at an area sealed off by police in Dagestan. There are
police cars in the road. The people look worried.
An area sealed off by police after the Dagestan attacks [RIA Novosti via
AFP]
Published On 23 Jun 202423 Jun 2024

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Gunmen have attacked churches, a synagogue and a police post in Russia�s
North Caucasus region of Dagestan, killing at least 15 police and National
Guard officers, several civilians and an Orthodox priest, according to
authorities.

At least 12 people were injured in the attacks, which took place in the
cities of Derbent and Makhachkala on Sunday, the festival of Pentecost for
the Russian Orthodox Church.
Three gunmen on a street in Makhachkala. They are dressed in black and
appear to be firing their weapon. There are two cars on the street but they
appear abandoned. The front door of one is open.
The gunmen pictured on the street of Makhachkala [Reuters]

Videos posted on social media and shown on Russian TV showed the skies of
Derbent, which is home to an ancient Jewish community in the mainly Muslim
region, filled with smoke and flames after the synagogue was set on fire.

Places of worship were also attacked in Makhachkala, the capital of
Dagestan and its largest city, approximately 125km (78 miles) away, where
the police post also came under attack.

Russia�s Investigative Committee said it had opened criminal investigations
over �acts of terror� in Dagestan, which neighbours Chechnya and is one of
the poorest areas of Russia.

�This evening in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala armed attacks were
carried out on two Orthodox churches, a synagogue and a police checkpoint,�
the National Anti-terrorism Committee said in a statement to the RIA
Novosti news agency.

�As a result of the terrorist attacks, according to preliminary
information, a priest from the Russian Orthodox Church and police officers
were killed.�

The Russian Orthodox Church said its archpriest Nikolai Kotelnikov had been
�brutally killed� in Derbent.
�International terrorist organisation�

The attack on the Derbent synagogue took place about 40 minutes before
evening prayers were due to start.

�The synagogue in Derbent is on fire,� the chairman of the public council
of Russia�s Federation of Jewish Communities, Boruch Gorin, wrote on
Telegram. �The synagogue in Makhachkala has also been set on fire and
burned down.�