Terror reigns in Dagestan: Deadly attacks on places of worship
9:13 AM EDT, June 24, 2024
A film appeared on Telegram showing the course of the terrorist attack in Russia's Dagestan. The author of the recording is one of the attackers who set fire to a synagogue in Makhachkala on Yermoshkinaya Street.
On Sunday, attackers in Russia opened fire at places of worship in two cities in the southernmost province of Dagestan, killing at least 15 police officers, an Orthodox priest, and an unknown number of civilians.
The leader of the Republic of Dagestan, Sergey Melikov, said that at least six "militants" also died in attacks on churches, synagogues, and police stations in the cities of Derbent and the regional capital Makhachkala, which are roughly 75 miles apart.
the attacks took place in the Republic of Dagestan in the North Caucasus, a predominantly Muslim region on the Caspian Sea. The upheaval in the region has been further exacerbated by Russia's war in Ukraine, where ethnic minorities have been forced to fight.
A firefight between the terrorists and local security services lasted the entire evening. At 2:30 AM Eastern Time, the region's head, Sergey Melikov, announced in a video published on his Telegram channel that the active phase of operational military actions in the cities of Makhachkala and Derbent had ended.
Since Sunday, there have been many scenes from Russia on social media. One of them was uploaded by the attacker himself. The author, Osman, is one of the terrorists. He is the son of Magomed Omarov, head of the administration of the Sergokalinsky district. Osman is said to be behind setting fire to the synagogue in Makhachkala on Yermoshkinaya Street. He published this film in a Telegram group.
Who is behind the attack in Russia?
Videos and photos online showed large flames and thick plumes of smoke rising densely from the synagogue in Derbent, while footage shot from a building window in Makhachkala shows unidentified people dressed in black shooting at a police car on the street.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, which come three months after ISIS claimed it attacked the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, killing over 140 people. This was one of the deadliest acts of terrorism in Russia in years.
