Operation Against Gunmen Who Attacked Churches and Synagogue in Dagestan Over : Russian Anti-Terror Agency

A counter-terrorism operation against armed assailants who launched a deadly attack on religious institutions in Russia's predominantly Muslim Dagestan region has been brought to a close, according to the national anti-terrorism agency.

The brutal assaults, which claimed the lives of at least 16 people, took place on a sacred day in the Russian Orthodox Church calendar, Pentecost Sunday. The National Antiterrorism Committee announced that the decision to terminate the anti-terrorist operation was made after the threats to citizens' lives and well-being were successfully neutralized .

The coordinated attacks were carried out in the Dagestan capital Makhachkala and nearby Derbent. Regional leader Sergei Melikov confirmed that over 15 law enforcement officers lost their lives in the terrorist act, along with several innocent civilians. Melikov paid tribute to the police officers, saying they "made the ultimate sacrifice to protect civilians."

The Russian Orthodox Church reported that archpriest Nikolai Kotelnikov, 66, was brutally murdered in Derbent. The initial death toll given was eight police officers and a priest, but this number has since risen to at least 16.

State news agency TASS cited a law enforcement source as saying that the gunmen responsible for the attacks were affiliated with an international terrorist organization, although the organization was not named .

Why it Matters : The attacks in Dagestan serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle against extremism in the North Caucasus region. Russia's FSB security service has previously reported that militants from Dagestan have traveled to join ISIS in Syria, and in 2015, the group declared it had established a "franchise" in the North Caucasus . The region has a history of separatist movements and extremist activity, with Russian authorities battling separatists in two brutal wars in Chechnya in the 1990s.

The attacks also highlight the vulnerability of religious minorities in the region. The targeting of a synagogue, in particular, is a concerning development, given the history of anti-Semitic violence in Russia.

Key Takeaways : 

• At least 16 people lost their lives in attacks on two Orthodox churches, a synagogue, and a police checkpoint in Russia's Dagestan region.
• The attacks occurred on Pentecost Sunday, a sacred day in the Russian Orthodox Church calendar.
• The National Antiterrorism Committee has concluded the operation against the gunmen responsible for the attacks.
• The Russian Orthodox Church reported that archpriest Nikolai Kotelnikov, 66, was brutally murdered in Derbent.
• The attacks are a reminder of the ongoing struggle against extremism in the North Caucasus region.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by TrimFeed (@trimfeednews)