Terrorist attack in Dagestan: over a dozen dead

On the evening of June 23, a terrorist attack occurred in Dagestan. More than a dozen people were killed, and 27 were injured.

According to Russian media, armed militants attacked Orthodox churches, synagogues, and a traffic police post in the cities of Makhachkala and Derbent. Preliminary reports indicate that at least six police officers and several civilians were killed.

A counter-terrorist operation regime has been introduced in Dagestan. The Anti-Terrorism Committee of Russia reported five militants killed, while Dagestan authorities reported six.

As a result of the attacks in Makhachkala and Derbent, at least nine people were killed, seven of whom were law enforcement officers. Another 25 people were reported injured, according to the media.

According to other reports, around 20 people were killed in Dagestan, including eight police officers. The number of injured has risen to 34, of which 27 are law enforcement officers.

No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

Some publications reported that two of the killed militants are the sons of the head of the Sergokalinsky district of Dagestan, Magomed Omarov. Another attacker is his nephew. Following this, Omarov was detained and taken for questioning. It is reported that he has already resigned. It is also reported that all five militants were natives of the Sergokalinsky district and were part of the terrorist group led by Omarov’s son.

Later, the page of Magomed Omarov, the head of the Sergokalinsky district of Dagestan, disappeared from the website of “United Russia.” Omarov has been expelled from “United Russia” for discrediting actions, according to the regional branch of the party.

According to media reports, MMA fighter Gadzhimurad Kagirov and Ali Zakarihaev, who was previously elected to the Assembly of Deputies of the Sergokalinsky district and headed the “Fair Russia” branch in that district, participated in the attack.

In Makhachkala and Dagestan, the counter-terrorist operation regime introduced after the militants’ attacks was lifted on the morning of June 24. A three-day mourning period has been declared in Dagestan — June 24, 25, and 26.