Coordinated Terror Attacks in Russia's Dagestan Leave 19 Dead, Including Police and Civilians

A synagogue in Derbent, Russia, was set ablaze in a suspected terror attack on the country.

On Sunday, gunmen opened fire on places of worship and police posts in Russia’s southern Dagestan province, killing at least 15 police officers and four civilians, including an Orthodox priest. The coordinated attacks targeted sites in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala, approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) apart.

Sergey Melikov, head of the Dagestan Republic, confirmed that six militants were killed in the attacks on churches, synagogues, and police posts. The Republic of Dagestan in the North Caucasus, a predominantly Muslim region with a history of separatist and militant violence, has been further destabilized by Russia’s war in Ukraine, which has disproportionately mobilized ethnic minorities.

The aftermath of an attack at a synagogue in Derbent, Dagestan.

Video footage showed a synagogue in Derbent engulfed in flames and smoke, while other footage depicted unidentified gunmen shooting at a police car in Makhachkala. No group has claimed responsibility, but the attacks follow a recent ISIS-K assault in Moscow that killed over 140 people.

Russian authorities stated that the gunmen were “adherents of an international terrorist organization.” The National Antiterrorist Committee (NAC) reported that "armed militants attacked two Orthodox churches, two synagogues, and police officers" in the two cities. The counter-terrorism operation has since concluded.

A priest and six cops were killed and at least a dozen other people injured when gunmen opened fire at two synagogues, an Orthodox church and a police post Sunday in a suspected coordinated terror attack in Russia.

Among the civilian victims was Father Nikolay, a 66-year-old Orthodox priest in Derbent, who was killed in the church. A security guard at the church was also shot, while other priests locked themselves in a safe area until police arrived.

The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed attacks on two synagogues, with the Derbent synagogue set on fire and local guards killed. The Makhachkala synagogue was also attacked but reported no casualties as it was empty at the time.

Officials said no worshippers were in the temple during the fire but that at least one local officer was killed in the attack.

Dagestan declared three days of mourning with state flags lowered to half-staff. Financial assistance will be provided to the victims' families. The attacks appear to target the region’s small Christian and Jewish communities.

Authorities are investigating potential sleeper cells and foreign involvement in the attacks. “Operative-search and investigative measures will be carried out until all participants of the sleeper cells are identified, including those organized from abroad,” Melikov stated.

Law enforcement continues to identify the attackers, and a terror investigation has been launched under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Some local officials speculated involvement from Ukraine and NATO, but Russian senator Dmitry Rogozin cautioned against attributing all terrorist acts to these entities without evidence.