Two Coordinated Attacks in Dagestan Hit Multiple Religious Sites and Police Posts
In a day marked by violence, at least six police officers lost their lives and twelve others sustained injuries in two coordinated terrorist attacks carried out on Sunday in Dagestan, a Russian republic located in the Caucasus. Authorities have confirmed the deaths of two attackers as well as a priest involved in the embattled incidents.
The assailants targeted houses of worship and security checkpoints, striking churches, a synagogue, and traffic police posts in two cities: the regional capital, Makhachkala, and the coastal town of Derbent. Officials and the Russian news agency TASS provided the initial details about the assaults and the targets involved.
The Dagestan interior ministry, the regional body responsible for internal security, verified the casualty figures. Their statement reported six police officers killed and twelve wounded, with several militants subsequently detained as part of the ongoing response to the violence.
Earlier updates from local authorities described a deadly sequence in Derbent around six in the evening. Unidentified assailants killed a priest by slitting his throat, then set fire to the Orthodox church named the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos and to a nearby synagogue. The cityscape along Lenin Street bore witness to the attack, which unfolded near the church and the adjacent Jewish place of worship.
Media reports indicated that the Jewish building was left nearly destroyed, while the Christian church sustained less extensive damage from the fire. Witnesses and officials noted that the attackers fled in a white Volkswagen Polo bearing the registration number 921. Russian outlets also reported that at least two assailants were shot dead by authorities as the investigation unfolded.
In Makhachkala, the regional capital, a first confrontation erupted at a traffic police post located on a central street known as Ermoshkina. One police officer died and six others were wounded in that gun attack, according to the Dagestan interior ministry’s official Telegram channel. The city center’s proximity to a synagogue heightened concerns about potential further targets as security forces moved to contain the situation.
Security officials have launched a ring containment operation aimed at locating those responsible for the violence. The regional leadership has called for calm while expressing resolve to restore safety and order for residents and visitors alike.
Dagestan’s president, Sergei Melikov, condemned the assaults and described them as an attempt to destabilize society. He urged residents to remain composed and cooperative with authorities during the investigation and the subsequent pursuit of the perpetrators. Video clips circulating on social networks were cited by officials as potential indicators of suspects, though their authenticity could not be independently verified at the time. One of the individuals alleged to be involved reportedly bore a callus on the forehead that some observers have associated with certain religious rites.
In a separate historical reference, a previous night at the end of October last year involved unrest at an international airport. A mob reportedly attacked travelers arriving on a flight from Tel Aviv in retaliation for Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip. The assailants reportedly stormed the runway, resulting in the detention of more than 200 people. Up to twenty people were wounded, including nine police officers. Officials confirmed that none of the injured were Israeli citizens, according to a statement attributed to the Israeli ambassador to Russia at that time.
Authorities in Dagestan have pressed forward with investigations to identify all participants in the Sunday violence and to determine the full scope of the attacks. The region remains on high alert as security forces assess potential links between the two incidents and the broader patterns of violence affecting communities in the area. The public is urged to rely on official channels for updates as the situation develops, and to avoid spreading unverified information that could hinder the ongoing response and safety measures. Citations: Dagestan interior ministry statements and reports from TASS, with corroboration from regional authorities and eyewitness accounts.
Note: Details about the events are based on official statements and contemporary reporting from local authorities and major news agencies. Ongoing investigations may refine casualty figures and confirm the identities of those involved as new information becomes available.