Russia | 15 killed, several injured as gunmen attack churches in Russia ; terror probe launched
Russia church attack : As many as 15 people have been killed and 25 sustained injuries in coordinated attacks by gunmen in Dagestan, Russia's southernmost province.
The Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Republic of Dagestan said it had initiated a "terror investigation" into the attacks under the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, as reported by media sources.
Attacks have been reported in churches, synagogues and a police traffic stop in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala, which are about 120km (75 miles) apart.
In a statement, the investigation directorate said, "All the circumstances of the incident and the persons involved in the terrorist attacks are being established, and their actions will be given a legal assessment."
Among the dead are seven law enforcement officers, a priest and a church security guard, according to local authorities. Four "militants" have also been killed, according to sources
One of the law enforcement officers killed was the head of the "Dagestan Lights" police department, Mavludin Khidirnabiev, according to the Dagestan Ministry of Internal Affairs telegram.
At a church in Makhachkala, 19 people locked themselves in for safety during a shootout that ended with at least one attacker being killed, media sources reported citing the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Dagestan.
Meanwhile, a synagogue in Derbent was set on fire with photos showing large flames and plumes of smoke billowing heavily out of a series of windows on at least one floor of the structure.
Melikov stated that the identities of the attackers are being established and an operational headquarters has been created and a plan for a counter-operation "Interception" is being carried out.
The statement reads, "As far as is known, there were no worshipers in the synagogues at the time of the attack, and there are no known casualties from the Jewish community."
- With inputs from agencies
