WorthyNews: 8 Dead, 12 Wounded in Shooting Incidents at Russian Synagogue, Church, and Police Station

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By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

JERUSALEM/MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – At least eight people died, and 12 were wounded when suspected Islamic gunmen opened fire at a Russian synagogue, churches, and police station in Russia’s North Caucasus region of Dagestan, several sources said.

Six 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 two of the 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, 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 in Makhachkala, and a priest was murdered in Derbent.”

The minister 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.

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 ISIS claimed responsibility for a deadly concert shooting near Moscow in March that killed more than 100 people.

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

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