Sergey Melikov, the head of Russia’s Dagestan Autonomous Republic, stated that the number of police officers killed in the armed attack in Makhachkala city has exceeded 15.
Melikov made statements on his Telegram channel regarding the attacks that targeted a police station, a synagogue and two churches in the cities of Makhachkala and Derbent.
The shootings in Russia’s Dagestan region killed 6 policemen and a priest.
Noting that this was a “terrorist attack”, Melikov said, “We know who is behind this and what the organizers of these attacks are aiming for. War has come to our house.”
Melikov stated that Dagestan police fought back against the organizers of the attacks and said, “More than 15 policemen lost their lives in this unprecedented terrorist attack. They were protecting peace and tranquility in Dagestan at gunpoint. Among the dead are several civilians, including a priest.”
Stating that the active phase of the anti-terrorist operation in the cities of Makhachkala and Derbent was completed, Melikov said, “6 militants who organized the attacks were neutralized. The necessary work will be carried out to identify all the plots and terrorist cells prepared by external forces. The situation is under control by state institutions.”
In the statement made by the Russian Investigative Committee, it was stated that the attacks were evaluated as terrorist acts and an investigation was launched into the incident.
It was also stated that the fire that broke out in the synagogue in Derbent as a result of the attack was extinguished.
Incident
In a written statement made by the Russian Interior Ministry yesterday, it was reported that unidentified armed men organized attacks in the cities of Makhachkala and Derbent.
It was stated that 7 policemen and a priest lost their lives and 4 of the attackers were killed in the attacks targeting a police point, a synagogue and two churches.
