Gunmen have opened fire on a synagogue and two Orthodox churches in Russia’s Dagestan region in a suspected terror attack.
At least six police officers and a priest have been killed in Derbent and Makhachkala. The priest, 66-year-old Father Nikolay, had his throat cut.
Video circulating on social media shows the gunmen exchanging fire with police and roads out of Makhachkala blocked as investigators hunt down terrorists.
The synagogue in Derbent – the southernmost city in Russia located on the Caspian Sea – was set on fire, officals said.
Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, is located about 75 miles north along the coast.
In a statement, Russia’s interior ministry said six police officers had been killed and a further 12 are injured.
Russia’s Investigative Committee said the attacks are being considered “acts of terror.”
In a post on Russian social media platform VK, the Muftiate of the Republic of Dagestan said: “Law enforcement officers, clergy, and ordinary citizens became victims of monstrous terrorist attacks.”
In Makhachkala, a police checkpoint was targeted and images in Russian media show a police vehicle on fire.
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A priest was killed in a church in Derbent, Shamil Khaduleav, the Dagestan Public Monitoring Commission Chairman, said.
Officials told Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti two “militants” have been killed.
Khadulaev said Father Nikolay was killed in the church in Derbent and his throat was cut.
“According to the information I received, Father Nikolay was killed in the church in Derbent, they slit his throat. He was 66-years-old and very ill,” he said.
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