Gunmen opened fire at a synagogue, an Orthodox church and a police post in attacks across two cities in Russia's North Caucasus region of Dagestan on Sunday, killing an Orthodox priest and at least 15 police officers, the region's head said. Russian state news agencies cited the National Anti-Terrorist Committee as saying that five of the gunmen had been killed. DAYS OF MOURNINGJune 24-26 have been declared days of mourning in Dagestan, Melikov said, with flags lowered to half-staff and all entertainment events cancelled. About 125 kilometres (75 miles) south of Makhachkala, gunmen attacked a synagogue and a church in Derbent, home to an ancient Jewish community and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Authorities were quoted as saying that both the synagogue and church were ablaze, and that two attackers had been killed.

Source: The Telegraph June 24, 2024 14:20 UTC