A series of coordinated attacks in southern Russia on Sunday have resulted in at least nine fatalities, including seven law enforcement officers, after gunmen armed with automatic weapons opened fire on a synagogue and an Orthodox church in separate incidents across the Dagestan region, according to local authorities.


The violence began in Derbent, a city situated along the Caspian Sea, around 6 p.m. local time. Multiple assailants launched a sustained assault on both religious sites, setting fire to the buildings amidst a hail of gunfire, as reported by the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee. The incident in Derbent left several injured, with the attackers fleeing the scene in a Volkswagen Polo, witnesses confirmed.




Approximately 75 miles away in Makhachkala, another attack unfolded concurrently, where gunmen targeted traffic police and ignited a police vehicle, escalating tensions further. A standoff ensued between law enforcement and the assailants, leading to ongoing skirmishes into the night, authorities stated.


Sergei Melikov, a regional leader in Dagestan, condemned the attacks as attempts to destabilize the area's social fabric and assured the public that law enforcement had mobilized to contain the situation. He urged calm among residents amidst the unfolding crisis.


The incidents mark a grave escalation in violence within the region, prompting heightened security measures and a state of alert as authorities work to restore order and investigate the motives behind the attacks.