The North Caucasus region of Russia was hit by a series of attacks on Sunday, as gunmen opened fire at a synagogue, an Orthodox church, and a police post in Dagestan. According to the region’s interior ministry, six policemen were killed and 12 others injured in the attacks. A local religious organization put the death toll at nine, including seven police officers. The interior ministry reported that four gunmen were shot dead as the incidents unfolded, while a local official said that another gunman was killed during a shootout at a church in Makhachkala, the region’s main administrative center.
The attacks occurred in the predominantly Muslim region of Dagestan, where there has been a long history of extremist activity. The region was hit by an Islamist insurgency in the 2000s, which spilled over from neighboring Chechnya. Russian security forces have been actively combating extremist groups in the region, but the attacks on Sunday highlighted the ongoing challenge of maintaining security in the area.
The attacks began with gunfire exchanges in the center of Makhachkala, followed by attacks on a synagogue and a church in Derbent, a city located about 125 kilometers south of Makhachkala. The interior ministry reported that both the synagogue and church were ablaze, while an unofficial channel on the Telegram messaging app, Mash, reported that police were preparing to storm a building where gunmen were holed up.
The head of Dagestan’s regional government, Abdulbagshi Medov, vowed stiff punishment for “whichever forces lies behind these disgusting actions.” In Israel, the Foreign Ministry reported that the synagogue in Derbent had been burned to the ground and shots had been fired at a second synagogue in Makhachkala. However, there were no reports of worshippers being injured or killed during the attacks.
Terror Strikes in Russia’s North Caucasus
Russian authorities have previously blamed militant Muslim elements for similar incidents in the region. In October, rioters waving Palestinian flags broke down glass doors and rampaged through Makhachkala airport in response to the outbreak of war in Gaza. Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West and Ukraine of stirring up unrest inside Russia in connection with the incident.
The attacks on Sunday have been widely condemned in Russia, with many officials and ordinary citizens expressing shock and outrage at the violence. The incidents have also raised concerns about the ongoing threat of extremism in the region and the need for continued security measures to protect against future attacks.
In the aftermath of the attacks, authorities are working to identify the perpetrators and their motives. While the full extent of the violence is still unclear, it is clear that the attacks on Sunday were a serious and disturbing incident that has sent shockwaves through the region. As authorities continue to investigate and work to restore security, it is critical that they also address the underlying causes of extremism and work towards a more peaceful and tolerant society.
