Russia launches terror investigation into upcoming attacks on synagogues, Orthodox church buildings; Priest and law enforcement officer killed

Gunmen opened fire on two synagogues, two Orthodox churches and a police post in Russia’s North Caucasus region of Dagestan on Sunday.

According to the company’s Telegram web page, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation launched a terrorism investigation “into armed attacks in Derbent and Makhachkala, as a result of which police officers and civilians were killed and injured.”

Shamil Khadulev, chairman of Dagestan’s Folk Tracking Commission, said a 66-year-old priest was found with his throat slit in an Orthodox church, the state-sponsored TASS news agency reported.

According to Reuters, news agencies quoted the Russian Interior Ministry as saying that at least two police officers were also killed. At least six members of the family were injured.

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Israel’s Ministry of International Affairs released a comment, confirming “the joint attack in Makhachkala and Derbent, two cities in the Dagestan province”.

“The synagogue in Derbent was set on fire and burned down. Local guards were killed. The synagogue in Makhachkala was attacked with bullets, there are no further details,” the comment said. “At the same time, churches were attacked in Makhachkala and a priest was killed in Derbent.”

It added, “As far as is known, there were no worshipers in the synagogues at the time of the attack and there have been no casualties from the Jewish community.” “The Israeli Embassy in Moscow is in contact with Jewish community leaders in the district.”

Films circulated online showed buildings on fire and gunmen exchanging gunfire with police.

Bringing forward unspecified reports, Reuters said one officer was killed in a shooting at a synagogue in Derbent, home to a historic Jewish congregation in the North Caucasus.

Shots were also reportedly fired at an Orthodox church in the city, which is a UNESCO heritage site. Another shooting was reported at a police post in Makhachkala, the main city of Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim region in southern Russia, about 75 miles to the north along the Caspian coastline, according to Reuters.

Russian information company RIA reported that Vladimir Putin’s appointed head of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, said that “unknown persons” tried to “destabilize the social situation” in Derbent and Makhachkala.

No selected group was directly held responsible for the attacks.

On the other hand, they come amid concerns about the stance of Islamic terrorists, particularly the ISIS-K faction.

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FBI Director Christopher Wray warned earlier today that following the Biden leadership’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, the ultimatum will increase the likelihood of an October 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas militants, as well as “the possibility of a coordinated attack on the homeland.” . “This is not unlike the ISIS-K attack we saw on a Russian concert hall in March.”

On March 22, crocus town of moscow The concert hall was attacked by terrorists, killing more than 140 of the family and injuring more than 180. The gunmen who carried out the attack were identified by Russian media as citizens of Tajikistan. Then terrorists armed with automatic guns started firing indiscriminately at the 6,200-seat venue.

Pictures from the scene show a large fire burning at the live performance site.

News of the attacks in Russia on Sunday came as America’s Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro were among the dignitaries at the groundbreaking ceremony for an ancient structure at the site of Pittsburgh’s Tree of Ages Synagogue, where There were 11 Jewish worshippers. He was assassinated on the Sabbath morning of October 27, 2018, in the deadliest act of anti-Semitism in American history.

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Emhoff, the first Jewish running mate of a U.S. president or vice president, said his job Sunday was to “send a message to the Jewish community of Pittsburgh, the country and the world that we must never forget what a poison anti-Semitism can do.”

This is a growing story. Please test again for updates. Reuters and associated press contributed to this record.