On Sunday, Russian Caucasus was rocked by a series of attacks that left a significant toll. Gunmen targeted two Orthodox churches and a synagogue in the region, resulting in the deaths of a priest and six police officers, as reported by the National Anti-Terrorism Committee and local authorities. The assaults took place in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, as well as in Derbent, a coastal city.
In Makhachkala, footage released by Russian media showed gunshots echoing through the streets as police were seen taking down four attackers. Meanwhile, videos from Derbent showed the only synagogue in the city on fire alongside an Orthodox church. There were reports of shooting targeting police officers in Makhachkala and Sergokala village between Makhachkala and Derbent. One officer was injured in Sergokala.
The Russian Investigative Committee is currently conducting a criminal investigation into these terrorist acts. The National Anti-Terrorism Committee has declared that the anti-terrorist operation is over in Derbent after four attackers were eliminated by police forces. The total casualties included six killed and 12 injured officers along with a 66-year-old priest who died in Derbent.
Dagestan is a predominantly Muslim region located on Russia’s southern border with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. The violence occurring there has been linked to tensions around the world including those related to Israel and Hamas conflict. Despite facing threats from jihadist organizations such as ISIS before, Russia continues to struggle with security challenges across its regions, particularly in areas like Caucasus where extremism remains prevalent today.
In conclusion, this latest wave of violence highlights Russia’s ongoing struggle against terrorism across its regions despite their efforts to combat it effectively. It also underscores how security challenges can have ripple effects across global borders making it important for countries to work together to combat them effectively.
