Fire at a synagogue in Dagestan. Photo: VOV
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According to the Press Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan, at around 6 p.m. (Moscow time), a group of gunmen launched attacks on a synagogue and an Orthodox church in the city of Derbent, causing blaze in the buildings. At almost the same time, a traffic police checkpoint in the city of Makhachkala was also attacked.
The attacks left a priest of the Russian Orthodox Church in Derbent, six police officers and a member of the National Guard dead and 12 others injured.
Staff from the Investigation Committee were swiftly present at the scene and the identities of the attackers were determined. Later, on the same day, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Dagestan announced that four gunmen were killed. The Ministry has initiated criminal proceedings while law enforcement officers are continuing to search for the remaining suspects.