Shooting at churches and synagogue in Russia: 20 dead, including policemen and priest

MOSCOW: Gunmen attacked places of worship and a traffic post in two Russian cities Derbent and Makachkala. 15 policemen and five of the attackers were killed in the incident. The incident took place on Sunday evening local time and is suspected to be a terrorist attack.

The police immediately retaliated. Apart from the policemen and the attackers, an Orthodox priest also died. Father Nikolai, a 66-year-old priest, was killed, reportedly by having his throat slit. Shamil Khadulev, chairman of the Dagestan Public Monitoring Commission, confirmed the priest’s death. Many civilians are reported to have been shot dead. Two Orthodox churches, a synagogue and a traffic police post were attacked. A security officer was also shot in the attack. But there is no clarity about his status.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. The attacks in the two cities came after the shock of an ISIS attack on Moscow's Crocus City Hall that left 140 dead a few years back. Government sources indicate that the attackers in Dagestan province are members of an international terrorist organization. The province is one of the Muslim-majority regions of Russia with a very small Orthodox and Jewish population.

It is reported that the attack the synagogue occurred approximately 40 minutes after the evening prayer. After the attack, churches and synagogues were set on fire.