Attacks on police posts, churches and a synagogue in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Dagestan have left more that 15 police officers and several civilians dead. Six gunmen were also killed.
The apparently coordinated attacks targeted the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala on the Orthodox festival of Pentecost.
The assailants have not been identified, but Dagestan has in the past been the scene of Islamist attacks.
The republic’s head, Sergei Melikov, said it was understood who was behind the organisation of the attacks, without giving details.
Two churches and a synagogue were targeted in the attacks, as well as a police post in Makhachkala, Dagestan’s largest city. An Orthodox Church priest was among those killed.
In Derbent – home to an ancient Jewish community – gunmen attacked a synagogue and a church, which were then set on fire.
