Unknown gunmen fired automatic weapons at a synagogue and Orthodox church in Dagestan, Russia, at 6 p.m. local time on Sunday, a Russian Interior Ministry official told the Russian News Agency TASS.
Over 15 police officers, a security guard, and a priest were killed in the attack, and 13 people were wounded, according to reports cited by Reuters.
One of the officers was killed at the synagogue, while the other officer and six people were shot and wounded at a nearby traffic police post, RIA reported. There were reports that a priest and security guard were victims of the attack, although it was unclear whether this meant they were killed or wounded.
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The attack was believed to be carried out by ISIS, according to Israel’s N12 news site and Jewish community reports.
Five of the gunmen who were among the attackers have been killed, Reuters reported Monday morning, citing Russia's news agencies.
The gunmen fled the scene and were said to be driving a white Volkswagen Polo with a 921 license plate. The identities of the shooters had been established, RIA reported. Two of the attackers involved in a series of shootings were shot dead, Russian news agencies quoted the Interior Ministry as saying.
A fire later broke out at the synagogue, and emergency services were reportedly attending to it.
“At approximately 18:00 [Moscow time] in Derbent, unknown persons fired at a synagogue and a church with automatic weapons,” a ministry source told TASS. “According to preliminary information, one police officer was killed and one was wounded. The car in which the suspects fled was identified as a white Volkswagen Polo, license plate 921 The circumstances are being clarified. Information about the dead and wounded police officers is being clarified.”
“In Makhachkala, unknown persons fired at a traffic police post on Ermoshkin Street,” the regional Internal Affairs Ministry reported. “The ‘Interception’ plan was announced. The identities of the attackers are being established.”
Fighting was later reported in the streets of Makhachkala.
Dagestan official Sergei Melikov said the shooting was an attempt to destabilize Russian society, RIA reported. An operational headquarters had been created, and all necessary decisions would be made in the interest of the safety of local residents, he said.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that in Makhachkala, shooters had fired at two synagogue guards who were inside their car and then entered the synagogue hall. At the time of the shooting, worshipers were not present.
A source in Dagestan’s Jewish community told The Jerusalem Post: “I spoke with the head of the Jewish community. It seems very serious… It’s an attack against a synagogue, the police, and a church.
“They killed a guard and a policeman, and the synagogue is on fire. Firefighters are trying to extinguish it but haven’t succeeded yet. The riots are also against the police and the church. The terrorists have not been caught yet. Apparently, [there were] several cells at the same time. On the news, there’s different information every second. It seems to be a combined/rolling attack in several places simultaneously. On the streets, they shot at police officers; at least five [were] killed.”
Rabbi Berel Lazar, Chief Rabbi of Russia, told Kol Barama Radio on Sunday night, "There were no casualties in the synagogues. The synagogue in Derbent was severely damaged, and in Makhachkala, they killed the guard, but no harm came to the community members. This is truly a miracle, as these are active synagogues."
Condemning the attack
The exiled Chief Rabbi of Moscow, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, commented on X, "We hear with great concern the developments in Dagestan and pray for the welfare of all the inhabitants impacted by this terror attack, including members of the Jewish and Russian Orthodox communities.
"Reports that ISIS is responsible for this heinous attack is once again proof that Russian law enforcement authorities instead of using their resources to fight ISIS and terrorism, have abused their resources to repress and kill peaceful citizens who were against the war.
"Our prayers are with the victims, their families, the injured and the hostages."
We hear with great concern the developments in Dagestan and pray for the welfare of all the inhabitants impacted by this terror attack, including members of the Jewish and Russian Orthodox communities. Reports that ISIS is responsible for this heinous attack is once again proof…
— Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt (@PinchasRabbi) June 23, 2024
Jewish life in Dagestan
Last year, a crowd stormed the Dagestan airport in what was described as an attempted pogrom against Jewish travelers landing from Israel.
Russia has also been on high alert as ISIS has increased the number of attempted attacks on Russian soil. In April, Russia said it had successfully thwarted an attack on a Moscow synagogue.
Also in April, Moscow was victim to a deadly concert shooting in which more than 100 people were killed by ISIS terrorists.
This is a developing story.
Reuters contributed to this report.