Gunmen wielding automatic weapons opened fire on a synagogue and an Orthodox church in two cities miles apart in the Dagestan region on Sunday, killing at least nine people, including seven law enforcement officers, according to the region’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The two attacks injured at least 25 people, according to Russian officials.
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The attack in Derbent, a city on the Caspian Sea, began at 6 p.m. local time when multiple gunmen opened fire on a synagogue and an Orthodox church, setting fire to both houses of worship, according to the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee.
According to Russian officials, a second incident occurred approximately 75 miles away near Makhchkala, also on the Caspian Sea.
According to officials, a gun battle between police and suspects was ongoing in Makhachkala on Sunday night.
Russian officials said that witnesses saw the perpetrators in the Derbent incident driving a Volkswagen Polo as they left the scene.
According to the state-owned news agency TASS, gunmen opened fire on traffic police on one street in Makhachkala and set a police car on fire on another.
In a statement, Sergei Melikov, the Russian leader of Dagestan, announced the establishment of an operational headquarters following the attacks.
“Unknown individuals attempted to disrupt the social scene in Derbent and Makhachkala this evening. Police officers from Dagestan stood in their path. According to early knowledge, there are victims among them,” Melikov stated.
Melikov asked Dagestan residents to keep calm.
This is an developing story. Please come back for updates.
