Series of Attacks in Dagestan
Recent reports from Dagestan’s interior ministry confirm that six police officers lost their lives, and 12 others sustained injuries when gunmen unleashed a wave of violence in the region.
The assailants targeted both a synagogue and an Orthodox church in Derbent and later attacked a traffic police post in Makhachkala.
In a tragic turn of events, a priest was among those killed in these brutal attacks. It is reported that four of the gunmen have been eliminated.
Response and Developments
Local sources have disclosed that another gunman was neutralized during a confrontation at a church in Makhachkala, the primary administrative hub of the region.
Furthermore, there are reports indicating that some attackers are barricaded in a building in Derbent, prompting law enforcement to prepare for a tactical intervention.
As per a statement by Russia’s national anti-terrorist committee, a total of nine casualties have been reported, with seven of them being police officers.
An active counter-terrorist operation is underway in search of the remaining gunmen in Derbent and Makhachkala.
According to the interior ministry, unidentified individuals carried out the attacks using automatic firearms, targeting both the synagogue and church, which were subsequently set ablaze.
The perpetrators fled the scene in a vehicle post the assaults.
Ongoing Situation
Additional reports suggest an exchange of gunfire occurred at a police post in Makhachkala, located about 125km north along the coast of the Caspian Sea.
The situation remains tense as law enforcement authorities make preparations to confront the gunmen holed up in a building in Derbent.
Further Updates from Sky News
For more details on this incident and other breaking news, visit Sky News for the latest updates:
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Insights on the Region
Derbent is renowned for its ancient Jewish community in the South Caucasus and is designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. On the other hand, Dagestan is predominantly a Muslim-populated region in southern Russia.
