Russian authorities say the death toll has risen to at least 20 following a series of coordinated terrorist attacks on churches and synagogues in the Dagestan region Sunday.
Gunmen armed with automatic weapons carried out the attacks in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala, according to officials.
In Derbent, attackers stormed an Orthodox church and a synagogue, setting an icon on fire and killing an Orthodox priest.
Dagestan's regional head, Sergei Melikov, described the events as a national tragedy, stating, "This is a day of tragedy for Dagestan and the whole country."
In Makhachkala, situated 125 kilometers (about 77.67 mi) north of the Caspian Sea, gunmen targeted a traffic police post and another church. Videos showed residents fleeing as smoke billowed over the city.
Reports from Dagestan’s health care ministry indicated that 46 people were injured, while five attackers were killed, some shown in local media footage lying dead on the ground.
The perpetrators' motives remain unclear as no group has claimed responsibility. But an affiliate of the Islamic State group in Afghanistan that claimed responsibility for a March raid in Moscow quickly praised the attack in Dagestan, saying it was conducted by “brothers in the Caucasus [region] who showed that they are still strong."
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a research group based in Washington, argued that the Islamic State group's North Caucasus branch, Vilayat Kavkaz, was likely behind the attack, describing it as “complex and coordinated.”
Melikov suggested foreign involvement in planning the attacks, emphasizing, "This is an attempt to cleave apart our unity."
The assaults on Christian and Jewish places of worship have raised concerns about Islamist threats in Russia, reminiscent of previous deadly incidents.
In March, 145 people were killed in an Islamic State-claimed attack at Moscow's Crocus concert hall. In October, during heightened tensions in Gaza, individuals reportedly targeted Jewish passengers arriving from Tel Aviv at Makhachkala airport.
June 24 to 26 have been declared days of mourning in Dagestan, with Melikov announcing flags would be flown at half-staff and entertainment events canceled.
The attacks have drawn condemnation globally, with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres offering condolences to the bereaved families and the Russian government, while wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
Some information for this report was provided by Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
