Media in Russia are reporting Sunday evening on an apparent terrorist attack against several targets in the Dagestan region in the North Caucasus, during which gunfire was directed against, among other things, a synagogue in the city of Derbent.
Two synagogues, two Orthodox churches and a police station were targeted. According to the reports, 7 policemen, a security guard and a priest were killed in the combined attack, in the cities of Derbent and Machekala. Another at least 25 people were injured. Four of the attackers reportedly have been killed.
A fire burns after the shooting in Derbent
Russian authorities said that this was an attack by an "international terrorist organization," which is an allusion to ISIS, but did not elaborate.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said so far, no Jews or Israelis are known among the victims. The Israeli embassy in Moscow is in contact with the leaders of the Jewish community in the district.
The synagogue that was attacked in Derbent was set on fire during the attack. According to Israel's Foreign Ministry, it burned to the ground. Fire was opened at another synagogue in Makhachkala, but there are no further details about the incident there yet.
Derbent is home to an ancient Jewish community in the North Caucasus. The Orthodox Church in the town, that also was attacked, is a UNESCO heritage site.
Another exchange of shots took place at a police post in Makhachkala, about 125 kilometres (75 miles) to the north along the Caspian Sea coast and the main city in Dagestan, a mainly Moslem region in southern Russia.
The Russian news agency RIA reported that gunmen opened fire on the synagogue around 6 p.m. local time. After the shooting, the attackers fled in a white Volkswagen car. Russia's security forces arrived at the scene and began an investigation.
In video that was distributed on social networks, at least three armed men are seen opening fire in the middle of a street. Loud gunshots are heard in the background. According to the reports, a priest was also among the dead, and on the government's RT network, a person at the scene said that attackers murdered him after breaking into the church and slitting his throat, though this claim has not yet been confirmed by the local authorities.
"The shooting attack at the synagogue in Russia, which follows the shocking events in France and other previous severe incidents in the United States and across the globe, mark a further increase in the already unprecedented levels of antisemitism Jewish communities worldwide are coping with," Sacha Roytman-Dratwa, CEO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement, said. "This is an important reminder of the reason why we must come together and fight on a daily basis against all who perpetrate, support, or justify acts of terrorism and violence against Jews. We hope that the relevant authorities will know how to protect their Jewish constituents and not leave them to face these violent antisemitic threats alone.”
The incident in Derbent comes after Russia in recent months announced several operations in which it arrested or killed ISIS terrorist operatives, including some who intended to attack synagogues and Jewish institutions.
In March, the Islamist terrorist organization carried out the worst attack that Russia has known in more than 20 years, when its terrorists opened fire in the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Moscow and killed at least 144 people. Last week, ISIS terrorists overtook guards at a prison in the city of Rostov, held them hostage and published videos in which they threatened to kill them; the terrorists were ultimately eliminated. According to Russia, the hostages were released unharmed.
Shooting at a synagogue and a church in Dagestan, Russia
Terrorist attacks have previously been carried out against the synagogue in Derbent. In 2013, a Chabad emissary to the city, Rabbi Ovadia Isakov, was shot and seriously wounded. About two months later, Russia announced that it had killed five terror suspects, including the man suspected of shooting Isakov.
First published: 19:27, 06.23.24