Worthy Christian News > World News > 15 Police Killed, 12 Injured In Shooting At Russian Synagogues and Churches (Worthy News In-Depth)

15 Police Killed, 12 Injured In Shooting At Russian Synagogues and Churches (Worthy News In-Depth)

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

JERUSALEM/MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – At least 15 police officers and several civilians, including an Orthodox priest, were killed and a dozen wounded when suspected Islamic gunmen opened fire at Russian synagogues, churches, and a police post in Russia’s North Caucasus region of Dagestan, several sources said.

The gunmen opened fire on at least two Orthodox churches, two synagogues, and a police post in two cities, according to local and Israeli authorities.

Numerous police officers were reportedly killed alongside a security guard and priest, while an additional 12 were wounded in attacks in Dagestan’s city Derbent, home to an ancient Jewish community.

A fire later broke out at the synagogue, and emergency services were attending the blaze, witnesses said.

There were also reports that an Orthodox Church came under fire in the same area. Reports also said shots were directed at a police post.

The shootings were likely carried out by the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, and five or six attackers have been shot dead, according to investigators.

Footage emerged Sunday of the developing situation in Derbent showing armed persons, Worthy News monitored.

The gunmen, who fled the scene, were said to be driving a white Volkswagen Polo. “At approximately 18:00 [Moscow time] in Derbent, unknown persons fired at a synagogue and a church with automatic weapons,” explained Russia’s regional Interior Ministry, adding there were several casualties. “The car in which the suspects fled was identified as a white Volkswagen Polo, license plate 921. The circumstances are being clarified. Information about the dead and wounded police officers is being clarified,” the ministry stressed.

FOREIGN MINISTRY

Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed that besides Derbent, there were also attacks in Makhchakla, Dagestan’s capital, where shooters fired on two synagogue guards inside of their cop car and then entered the synagogue hall. At the time of the shooting, worshippers weren’t present, Israeli sources said.

There was a “combined attack in two cities in the Dagestan region, Makhachkala and Derbent,” the ministry said. “The synagogue in Derbent was set on fire and burned to the ground. Local guards were killed. The synagogue in Makhachkala was attacked by gunfire, but no further details are available. At the same time, churches were attacked…and a priest was murdered in Derbent.”

The ministry stressed that “as far as is known, there were no worshippers in the synagogues at the time of the attack, and there are no known casualties among the Jewish community.”

However, the Israeli embassy in Moscow “is in contact with the heads of the Jewish community in the region. We will continue to update as more details become available.”

The regional Interior Ministry confirmed that in Makhachkala, “unknown persons fired at a traffic police post on Ermoshkin Street. The ‘Interception’ plan was announced. The identities of the attackers are being established.”

Fighting was later reported in the streets of Makhachkala. Dagestan’s head, Sergei Melikov, called the shootings “an attempt to destabilize Russian society.”

He stressed, “An operational headquarters has been created; all necessary decisions will be made in the interest of the safety of local residents.”

SERIOUS SITUATION

An unidentified local Jewish community representative said, “It seems very serious…. It’s an attack against a synagogue, the police, and a church.”

The source said, “They killed a guard and a policeman, and the synagogue is on fire. Firefighters are trying to extinguish it but haven’t succeeded yet. The riots are also against the police and the church. The terrorists have not been caught yet. Apparently, [there are] several [terrorism] cells simultaneously. On the news, there’s different information every second. It seems to be a combined/rolling attack in several places simultaneously. On the streets, they shot at police officers,” killing several.

Rabbi Berel Lazar, Chief Rabbi of Russia, told the media, “There were no casualties in the synagogues. The synagogue in Derbent was severely damaged, and in Makhachkala, they killed the guard, but no harm came to the community members. This is truly a miracle, as these are active synagogues.”

The exiled Chief Rabbi of Moscow, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, commented on social media platform X, “We hear with great concern the developments in Dagestan and pray for the welfare of all the inhabitants impacted by this terror attack, including members of the Jewish and Russian Orthodox communities.”

He added, “Reports that ISIS is responsible for this heinous attack is once again proof that Russian law enforcement authorities, instead of using their resources to fight ISIS and terrorism, have abused their resources to repress and kill peaceful citizens who were against the war” in Ukraine. “Our prayers are with the victims, their families, the injured, and the hostages.”

Russian state news agency Tass cited law enforcement sources as saying that a Dagestani official was detained over his son’s involvement in the attacks.

Dagistan Governor Sergei Melikov said the situation in the region was under the control of law enforcement and local authorities and vowed to investigate the attacks until “all the sleeping cells” of the militants are uncovered.

UKRAINE ROLE?

He claimed, without providing evidence, that the attacks might have been prepared from abroad and referenced what the Kremlin calls “the special military operation” in Ukraine in an apparent attempt to link the attacks to it.

The attacks came as Russia is still reeling from the worst antisemitic in recent memory attacks and acts of terrorism, including a massacre in March.

Dagestan made headlines in 2023 after a crowd stormed the local airport in what was seen as an attempted pogrom against Jewish travelers landing from Israel.

The violence, reminiscent of tsarist-era persecution of Jews, indicated the dangers for Russia of stoking antisemitic sentiment amid its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and repercussions from the Israel-Hamas war, analysts said.

Russia has also been on high alert for acts of terrorism after an affiliate of ISIS claimed responsibility for a deadly concert shooting in suburban Moscow in March that killed some 145 people.

Moscow also tried to link the attack to Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion of the country, but Kyiv has vehemently denied any involvement in the massacre.

Separately, Russia said in April that it had successfully thwarted an attack on a Moscow synagogue.