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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dagestan attack, 2024}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dagestan attack, 2024}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2024 building bombings]]
[[Category:2024 building bombings]]
[[Category:2024 fires in Europe]]
[[Category:2024 fires in Europe]]

Revision as of 20:29, 24 June 2024

2024 Dagestan attack
Part of Terrorism in Russia
Islamic State insurgency in the North Caucasus
Kele-Numaz Synagogue in Derbent. The synagogue was almost completely destroyed by fire as a result of the attacks.
LocationDerbent and Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia
Date23 June 2024
~18:00–23:00 (MSK)
TargetTwo churches, two synagogues, and a road police post[1]
Attack type
WeaponsSchmeisser AR15 Ultramatch rifles, AK–style assault rifles, and Molotov cocktails
Deaths25 (15 police officers, 4 civilians, 5 perpetrators)[2]
Injured44 (37 police officers, 7 civilians)[3]
Perpetrators Islamic State – Caucasus Province (per ISW)[4]

On 23 June 2024, coordinated terrorist attacks were launched with rifles, automatic weapons, and Molotov cocktails on targets in two cities in the Russian republic of Dagestan in the North Caucasus.[5][6] A synagogue, two Eastern Orthodox churches in Derbent, and a road police post in Makhachkala were attacked simultaneously.[7][8][9]

The Head of Dagestan, Sergey Melikov, reported that 15 police officers, a priest, and several other civilians were killed, along with at least five perpetrators.[10][11]

Background

The North Caucasus region of Russia has been embroiled in conflict since the 1990s. This predominantly Muslim-populated area experienced two significant wars involving the separatist Chechen republic from 1994 to 2000. Following the Chechen wars, a series of terrorist attacks and clashes between Russian and Islamist forces persisted into the 2010s. Since 2017, the North Caucasus has seen a resurgence of violence, attributed to the Islamic State.[12] In 2015 the group announced that it had established a "franchise" in the North Caucasus.[13]

Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin in Derbent

Since the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war in October 2023, Russia's Jewish community has faced increasing threats of violence. On 28 and 29 October of the same year, antisemitic riots broke out in the Muslim-majority regions of the Northern Caucasus, including in Dagestan. In March 2024, an attack at a Moscow concert hall killed 145 people. This was the deadliest attack in Russia in two decades, and was claimed by the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISKP).[12]

Attacks

Derbent

On the evening of 23 June 2024, the Telegram channel Baza reported that an attack had been launched at the Orthodox Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin on Lenin Street in Derbent with rifles, automatic weapons, and Molotov cocktails.[6][5] It was one of two churches that were attacked during a religious holiday, Pentecost Sunday in the Russian Orthodox Church, reportedly as attackers yelled "Allahu Akbar".[14][13][15] Bystanders said that gunfire was heard and smoke was visible in the area of ​​the church, and the entire Derbent police force was put on alert.

According to the Dagestan branch of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, at approximately 18:00 local time in Derbent, in addition to the Orthodox church, the Kele-Numaz Synagogue was fired upon with automatic weapons.[16] Telegram users posted videos showing police cars being shot at, and the synagogue on fire.[17]

The attackers fled in a white Volkswagen Polo. Nineteen people sought shelter in the church before being rescued.[18]

Makhachkala

Almost simultaneously with the attacks in Derbent, news appeared about a fire in a synagogue on Ermoshkina Street in Makhachkala, Dagestan's capital and largest city, about 75 miles away.[13][19] The fire was reportedly extinguished, and no victims were reported.[20][21]

The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that, in parallel with Derbent, unknown militants also attacked targets in Makhachkala, including firing at a traffic police post. A video from Makhachkala showed militants in black clothing shooting at passing police cars with machine guns.[17] At approximately 19:00 local time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs posted a video showing the attackers firing at police officers on Magomedgadzhiev Street in Makhachkala. The faces of several militants were visible in the footage.[17] In Makhachkala, as in Derbent, a plan to neutralize the attackers was announced.[citation needed]

Perpetrators

Conflicting reports emerged initially as to the number of attackers. The Head of Dagestan, Sergey Melikov, said that six “bandits” had been "liquidated", while the National Antiterrorism Committee initially said five gunmen had been "eliminated".[22] Authorities later said that four attackers were killed by police in Makhachkala, while two others were killed in Derbent.[23]

Russia's state-run news agency TASS said the attackers were "followers of an international terrorist organization" and that law enforcement officials were identifying their handlers and organizers, but failed to name the organization.[24][25] Militants from Dagestan are known to have traveled to join the Islamic State in Syria, and in 2015, the group declared that it had established a "franchise" in the North Caucasus.[26] On 24 June, the Investigative Committee of Russia announced that it had confirmed the identities of 5 perpetrators.[27]

The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes that Islamic State – Caucasus Province may have been involved in the attack. The Islamic State – Khorasan Province's Al-Azaim Media account shortly after the attack praised "their brothers in the Caucasus" for showing what they were capable of. However, the ISW noted that Al-Azaim did not directly claim responsibility for the attacks.[4]

Russian media reported that two sons and a nephew of Magomed Omarov, the head of Dagestan's Sergokalinsky District, were among the perpetrators of the Makhachkala attack.[28][29] They were subsequently killed during a confrontation with the police.[30][31] Omarov himself submitted a resignation letter, was detained, and is being questioned by the Russian Federal Security Service.[32] Later, Omarov was expelled from the United Russia party "for actions that discredit United Russia".[33]

Five attackers who were killed were identified as:

  • Osman Omarov, 31 years old, son of the head of the Sergokalinsky District Magomed Omarov.[34]
  • Adil Omarov, 37 years old, son of Magomed Omarov.[35]
  • Abdusamad Amadziev, 32 years old, nephew of Magomed Omarov.
  • Gadzhimurad Kagirov, 28 years old, UFC fighter in Khabib Nurmagomedov club and student of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.[16][36][37]
  • Ali Zakarigaev, 35 years old, former president (until 2022) of the Sergokala section of the “A Just Russia - For Truth” party.[38]

Victims

The Head of Dagestan, Sergey Melikov, reported that 15 police and Rosgvardiya officers and several civilians were killed, along with either five or six perpetrators.[18][10] At least 46 others were injured in the attacks, including 13 police officers. Four of the injured police officers were described as being in "grave" condition.[39]

Among the civilian casualties was 66-year-old Father Nikolay Kotelnikov, who had served the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin in Derbent for over four decades and was killed there by the attackers. Shamil Khadulaev, chairman of the Public Monitoring Commission of Dagestan, said on his Telegram channel that Kotelnikov's throat had been slashed.[40] The attackers reportedly broke into the church shortly after its holiday Sunday evening service; other clergy at the church managed to lock themselves in safely, and were later rescued.[15] The church's security guard, armed only with a gas pistol, was shot and also among those killed by the attackers.[17][41]

Reactions

Patriarch Kirill I, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, said it was “no coincidence” that the attack took place on the day Orthodox Christians observe Pentecost. He said that "the enemy is not giving up on attempts to destroy interreligious peace and harmony within our society."[5]

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered condolences to the victims of the attacks.[42] Tatyana Moskalkova, Russia's commissioner for human rights, condemned the perpetrators of the attacks, and expressed condolences for those affected.[43] Melikov claimed that the attacks may have been prepared from outside Russia.[44] The Head of Ingushetia, Mahmud-Ali Kalimatov, claimed that the terrorist attacks and a Ukrainian bombing in Sevastopol that occurred on the same day were linked together as attempts by "enemies" to destabilize the country.[45] Head of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma Leonid Slutsky wrote on Telegram that the attacks were planned from outside Russia for the purpose of "sowing panic and dividing the Russian people", and connected it to the missile attack on Sevastopol that occurred on the same day.[46][47] Member of the People's Assembly of the Republic of Dagestan Abdulkhakim Gadzhiyev posted on Telegram that there was "no doubt" that the intelligence services of Ukraine and NATO countries were connected to the attacks.[48] At the same time, Federal Senator Dmitry Rogozin called for not considering the terrorist attack as "the machinations of Ukraine and NATO", since, in his opinion, if all such attacks are explained in this way, it will lead to problems.[49] President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov called the attack an attempt to cause "discord between faiths".[48]

The Israeli foreign ministry and the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia said that the synagogue of Derbent had been "burned to the ground".[6][50]

Aftermath

The Russian anti-terrorism agency said on 24 June that the "anti-terror operation" earlier launched against the perpetrators had ended after it killed five of the gunmen in Dagestan.[51][52]

Melikov published on his Telegram channel a video showing the remains of the Kele-Numaz Synagogue, which was almost completely destroyed by the fire.[53][54]

The government of Dagestan declared a three-day national mourning period from 24 to 26 June for those killed in the attacks.[55] On these days of mourning, national flags were to be flown throughout the territory of the republic. Cultural institutions and television and radio companies in Dagestan were to cancel all their entertainment events and programs.[56][57]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Orthodox priest, multiple police killed in terrorist attack in Russia's Dagestan". www.euractiv.com. 24 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Six militants eliminated in Dagestan" (in Russian). Interfax. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  3. ^ Arni, Anatoliy (24 June 2024). "Теракты в Дагестане: что известно" [Terrorist attacks in Dagestan : what we know]. Deutsche Welle (in Russian). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b "За нападениями в Дагестане может стоять Исламское государство – ISW". Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (in Russian). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Troianovski, Anton; Nechepurenko, Ivan (23 June 2024). "Gunmen Attack Synagogues and Churches in Russian Republic". The New York Times.
  6. ^ a b c Knight, Mariya; Tarasova, Darya; Deaton, Jen (23 June 2024). "Gunmen kill police, priest and civilians in attacks on places of worship in Russia's Dagestan". CNN. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  7. ^ "В Дербенте неизвестные обстреляли синагогу и церковь". РБК (in Russian). 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Неизвестные открыли стрельбу по синагоге в Дербенте, погиб полицейский". Life.ru (in Russian). 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Dagestan: Deadly attacks on churches and synagogue in southern Russia". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Gunmen kill 15 police officers and several civilians in Russia's southern Dagestan region". AP News. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Orthodox priest, multiple police killed in terrorist attack in Russia's Dagestan". euractiv.com. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  12. ^ a b Abbakumova, Natalia; Westfall, Sammy (24 June 2024). "Gunmen kill 9 in attacks on synagogue, Orthodox church in Russia's Dagestan". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  13. ^ a b c Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Gunmen In Russia's Dagestan Kill Police And Priest In 'Terror' Attack". Barrons.
  14. ^ "Attacks reported on synagogues, church in Dagestan, Russia". JNS.org.
  15. ^ a b "Orthodox Priest Killed In Russia Church Attack Identified As Nikolay Kotelnikov". Times Now. 24 June 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Local politician detained after 19 killed in Dagestan terror attacks". Novaya Gazeta Europe. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  17. ^ a b c d "В Дербенте и Махачкале вооруженные боевики напали на православные храмы и синагоги. Погибли и ранены полицейские Материал обновляется". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Several Killed in Church and Synagogue Attacks in Russia's Dagestan". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  19. ^ [1]
  20. ^ "Еврейские религиозные организации сообщили об атаке на синагогу в Махачкале" [Jewish religious organizations inform of attack on synagogue in Makhachkala]. RIA Novosti (in Russian). 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Нападения в Махачкале и Дербенте: что известно на данный момент" [Attacks in Makhachkala and Derbent: what we currently know]. BBC News Русская служба (in Russian). 23 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  22. ^ "Gunmen kill 15 police officers and several civilians in Russia's southern Dagestan region". AP News. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  23. ^ "What We Know About the Church and Synagogue Attacks in Dagestan". The Moscow Times. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  24. ^ "ТАСС: напавшие в Дагестане входили в международную террористическую организацию". Коммерсантъ (in Russian). 23 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Устроившие стрельбу в Дагестане являются членами террористической организации". Ведомости (in Russian). 23 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Anti-terror operation against deadly Dagestan attack over, say Russian authorities". France 24. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  27. ^ "СК сообщил об установлении личностей всех ликвидированных в Дагестане боевиков" [Investigative Committee informs of confirmation of identities of all liquidated terrorists in Dagestan]. Izvestiya (in Russian). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Deadly attacks on Dagestan synagogues and churches". BBC. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  29. ^ "Dagestani official sacked after sons implicated in Sunday's deadly attacks". POLITICO. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  30. ^ "В нападении в Дагестане участвовали сыновья и племянник главы Сергокалинского района" [The sons and nephew of the head of Sergokalinsky District involved in attack on Dagestan]. Meduza (in Russian). 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  31. ^ "Источник сообщил о задержании главы района в Дагестане Магомеда Омарова" [Source informs of detainment of head of Sergokalinsky district Magomed Omarov]. Izvestiya. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  32. ^ "В Дагестане задержали главу района — отца двух предполагаемых боевиков". РБК (in Russian). 23 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  33. ^ "Из «Единой России» исключили отца боевиков, напавших на Дагестан". РБК (in Russian). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  34. ^ "В Дагестане ликвидировали шесть боевиков". РБК (in Russian). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  35. ^ Суворов, Андрей (24 June 2024). "Сыновья единоросса и боец ММА: что известно об устроивших теракт в Дагестане". Главные новости в России и мире - RTVI (in Russian). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  36. ^ "В одном из боевиков из Дербента узнали бойца UFC и воспитанника Нурмагомедова - Газета.Ru | Новости". Газета.Ru (in Russian). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  37. ^ Shenheliia, Kateryna (24 June 2024). "What We Know About the Church and Synagogue Attacks in Dagestan". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  38. ^ ""Справедливая Россия" исключила из партии ликвидированного в Дагестане боевика" ["A Just Russia" expels perpetrator of Dagestan attack from party]. TASS (in Russian). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  39. ^ "Russian region of Dagestan holds a day of mourning after attacks kill 20 people, officials say". Associated Press. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  40. ^ Furman, Lera (23 June 2024). "Дербентское жертвоприношение. Убитый террористами дербентский священник всю жизнь прослужил в одном храме и был запечатлен в бронзе за 5 лет до своего мученичества" [Derbent sacrifice. The Derbent priest that was killed by terrorists had served in one church all his life and was immortalized in bronze 5 years before his martyrdom]. Novaya Gazeta Europe (in Russian). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  41. ^ Deaton, Darya Tarasova, Jen (23 June 2024). "Priest and police officer killed in attacks on synagogue and church in Russia's Dagestan". CNN. Retrieved 23 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ "Nineteen dead in attacks on churches and synagogue in southern Russia". BBC. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  43. ^ "Москалькова осудила теракты в Махачкале и Дербенте" [Moskalkova condemns terrorist attacks in Makhachkala and Derbent]. RIA Novosti (in Russian). 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  44. ^ "В Дагестане при нападении боевиков погибли более 15 полицейских" [Over 15 police officers killed in attack on Dagestan]. Meduza (in Russian). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  45. ^ "Нападения в Дагестане: задержан глава района, некоторые уже приплетают Украину". Украинская правда (in Russian). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  46. ^ Astier, Henri; Gozzi, Laura (24 June 2024). "Dagestan: Deadly attacks on churches and synagogue in southern Russia". BBC. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  47. ^ "Слуцкий назвал инспирированными извне теракты в Севастополе и Дагестане" [Slutsky called the attacks in Sevastopol and Dagestan "orchestrated from outside"]. Izvestiya (in Russian). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  48. ^ a b "Боевики убили полицейских в российском Дагестане". Euronews (in Russian). 23 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  49. ^ "Рогозин призвал не считать теракт в Дагестане «происками Украины и НАТО»". РБК (in Russian). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  50. ^ "More than a dozen killed in synagogue, church attacks in Russia's Dagestan". Al Jazeera. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  51. ^ "Anti-terror operation against deadly Dagestan attack over, say Russian authorities". France 24. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  52. ^ "Operation against Dagestan attackers over: Russian anti-terror agency". Alarabiya news. 24 June 2024.
  53. ^ "Внутри — пепелище. Видео из сожженной синагоги в Дербенте" [Inside - ashes. Video from the burnt synagogue in Derbent]. fontanka.ru (in Russian). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  54. ^ "Меликов приехал в атакованные боевиками церковь и синагогу в Дербенте" [Melikov arrives at the Derbent church and synagogue attacked by militants]. RBK (in Russian). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  55. ^ "Власти Дагестана объявили трехдневный траур в связи с терактами" [Government of Dagestan announces three-day mourning period in association with terrorist attacks]. Interfax (in Russian). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  56. ^ "Russia's Dagestan announces 3-day mourning in connection with terrorist attacks". news.am. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  57. ^ "More than a dozen killed in Dagestan following attack on churches and synagogue". Itv. 24 June 2024.
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