Russia News / Terrorist attacks on several churches in Russia, 15 people including priests and policemen killed

Russia News: Big news is coming from Russia. A fierce terrorist attack took place in Russia on Sunday. In which about 15 people lost their lives. Dagestan Governor Sergei Melnikov gave this information on Monday. Governor Sergei Melnikov said that more than 15 policemen and several civilians were killed in Dagestan, including an Orthodox priest, gunmen opened fire on two Orthodox churches, a synagogue and a police post in two cities.

15 People lost their lives

According to the information, the attackers opened fire on two Orthodox churches, a place of worship and a police post in two cities on Sunday. In which 15 people including policemen lost their lives. Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee described the attacks in the Muslim-dominated region with a history of armed militancy as terrorist acts. The governor further said, 6 attackers were killed.

Day of mourning declared

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have been declared mourning days in Dagestan regarding this incident. Russian officials said on Sunday that terrorists attacked two Orthodox churches, a synagogue and a traffic police post in two cities of Russia's southern state of Dagestan, killing a priest and at least 6 police officers. At the same time, Russia's National Anti-Terror Committee described the attacks in the Muslim-dominated region with a history of armed militancy as terrorist acts.

Attacked church first

Dagestan's Home Ministry said a group of armed men opened fire on a synagogue and a church in the city of Derbent on the Caspian Sea. According to state media, both the church and the synagogue caught fire during the attack. Around the same time, reports emerged of an attack on a church and a traffic police post in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan.

5 Terrorists killed

Authorities launched an anti-terrorism operation in the region after the attack. The Anti-Terrorism Committee said a priest and policeman were killed in the attacks. It later reported that 5 gunmen were killed. However, it is not clear how many militants were involved in the attacks. Russia's state news agency RIA Novosti quoted the region's interior ministry as saying six policemen were killed and 13 others injured, while other reports said a church guard was also killed and three civilians were injured in the attack.

No organisation has claimed responsibility yet

Dagestan's Muslim administrative body Muftiate put the total death toll at nine, including seven policemen, and said 25 more people were injured. The conflicting numbers could not be immediately reconciled. No organisation has claimed responsibility for the attacks so far. Russian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Russian state news agency TASS quoted a police source as saying a Dagestani official was detained over his involvement in the attacks.