MOSCOW (AP) — Greater than 15 law enforcement officials and a number of other civilians, together with an Orthodox priest, have been killed by armed militants in Russia’s southern republic of Dagestan on Sunday, its governor Sergei Melikov stated in a video assertion early Monday.
The gunmen opened fireplace on two Orthodox church buildings, a synagogue and a police put up in two cities, in line with the authorities.
Russia’s Nationwide Anti-Terrorist Committee described the assaults within the predominantly Muslim area with a historical past of armed insurgency as terrorist acts.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have been declared days of mourning within the area.
Dagestan’s Inside Ministry stated a gaggle of armed males shot at a synagogue and a church within the metropolis of Derbent, situated on the Caspian Sea. Each the church and the synagogue caught fireplace, in line with state media. Nearly concurrently, experiences appeared about an assault on a church and a site visitors police put up within the Dagestan capital, Makhachkala.
Authorities introduced a counter-terrorist operation within the area. The Anti-Terrorist Committee stated 5 gunmen have been “eradicated.” The governor stated six “bandits” had been “liquidated.” The conflicting numbers couldn’t be instantly reconciled and it wasn’t clear what number of militants have been concerned within the assaults.
There was no quick declare of accountability for the assaults. The authorities launched a felony investigation on the cost of a terrorist act.
Russian state information company Tass cited legislation enforcement sources as saying {that a} Dagestani official was detained over his sons’ involvement within the assaults.
Melikov stated within the video assertion that the scenario within the area was below management of the legislation enforcement and native authorities, and vowed that the investigation of the assaults will proceed till “all of the sleeping cells” of the militants are uncovered.
He claimed, with out offering proof, that the assaults may need been ready from overseas, and referenced what the Kremlin calls “the particular army operation” in Ukraine in an obvious try and hyperlink the assaults to it.
In March, gunmen opened fireplace on a crowd at a live performance corridor in suburban Moscow, killing 145 folks. An affiliate of the Islamic State group claimed accountability for the assault, however Russian officers additionally sought to hyperlink Ukraine to the assault with out offering any proof. Kyiv has vehemently denied any involvement.