Death Toll From Terror Attacks In Russia's Dagestan Increases To 19 People

Terror-related handling in Dagestan Russia/PHOTO: Gyanzhevi Gadzhibalayev/TASS

JAKARTA - The death toll from a series of terror attacks on churches and synagoges in the Dagestan region, Russia, increased to 19 people.

Armed people with automatic weapons stormed into the Orthodox and syanagoge churches in the city of Derbent on the evening of Sunday, June 23. They burned the icon at the church and killed 66-year-old Orthodox priest Nikolai Kotelnikov.

In the city of Makhachkala in Kaspia, the attacker shot at the traffic police post and attacked the church.

A shootout erupted around the Assumption Cathedral in Makhachkala and automatic gunfire was heard late at night. Footage shows residents running across the city seeking cover as plumes of smoke rising over Makhachkala.

No party has yet claimed responsibility.

The Russian investigative committee said 15 police and four civilians were killed. At least five attackers were killed, some of which were shown by local media shot dead on the sidewalk.

"This is a day of tragedy for Dagestan and the whole country," said Sergei Melikov, head of the Dagestan region.

He said foreign forces were involved in preparations for the attack, but did not provide further details.

This is an attempt to break up our unity.

Dagestan announced three days of mourning. Photos of the police who died lined up on the street in front of the red new flowers in Dagestan.

President Vladimir Putin, who has long accused the West of trying to trigger separatism in the Kaukasus, Kaspia, has yet to comment.