Moscow, Russia – The death toll in a brutal attack by Islamic militants in Russia’s southern region of Dagestan has tragically risen to 21 after a police officer succumbed to his injuries in the hospital, officials confirmed on Tuesday. This attack, which targeted Christian and Jewish places of worship and involved gunmen firing at police in Derbent and Makhachkala, marked the deadliest assault in Russia since a concert hall shooting in suburban Moscow earlier this year.
The assailants, affiliated with the Islamic State group in Afghanistan, claimed responsibility for the violence. The attackers, all five of whom were killed according to the Investigative Committee of Russia, unleashed chaos in the North Caucasus region, leaving a trail of devastation. Among the casualties were 16 police officers, with a total of 46 individuals injured, 13 of whom were law enforcement personnel.
Rev. Nikolai Kotelnikov, a respected 66-year-old Russian Orthodox priest in Derbent, was among the deceased. The assault occurred during the celebration of Pentecost, a significant religious observance for the Orthodox community. Dagestan, once plagued by frequent extremist attacks in the early 2000s, has struggled to eradicate the remnants of militant activities, as evidenced by this recent horrific incident.
While violence in Dagestan has somewhat subsided in recent years, a disturbing riot at an airport in October serves as a sobering reminder of the lingering extremist sentiments in the region. The mob attack, which targeted a flight from Israel, resulted in over 20 injuries. The incident, characterized by the display of antisemitic slogans and aggressive behavior towards passengers and law enforcement, underscores the ongoing challenges faced in combatting extremism and ensuring public safety in Dagestan.