The second major Islamic terror attack in Russia in the last three months was on Orthodox Churches, Synagogues and Police Stations in the North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan. Nineteen people have been killed during the attack, including a priest.

Gunmen opened fire on places of worship in two cities of Russia’s southernmost Dagestan province in the country’s most recent Islamic terror attack.

Creating Chaos

The attack by militants killed at least 19 people including police officers, civilians, and an Orthodox priest, in what appeared to be a coordinated act of terrorism.

Sergey Melikov, Head of the Dagestan Republic, said at least six “militants” were also killed following the terror attacks.

The terror attacks targeted churches, synagogues, and police posts, in the cities of Derbent and the regional capital Makhachkala, which are about 120 kilometers (75 miles) apart.

The Islamic terror attacks took place in what is known as the republic of Dagestan in the North Caucasus and were designed to create chaos.

This area of Russia is a predominantly Muslim region on the Caspian Sea that has a history of separatist and militant violence.

The turbulence in the region has been further aggravated by Russia’s war in Ukraine, although acts of violence against Jews and Christians took place before the war.

Taking Responsibility

Although no Islamic terror group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, the presumption is more ISIS aligned terrorists.

The attacks come only three months after the ISIS affiliate ISIS-K attack which saw over one hundred innocent lives taken.

ISIS-K carried out an assault at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow that claimed more than 140 lives in one of Russia’s deadliest acts of terrorism.

Russian law enforcement agencies told state-run news agency that the gunmen in Dagestan were “adherents of an international terrorist organization.”

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Targeting Minorities

Russia’s National Antiterrorist Committee (NAC) confirmed that “armed militants attacked two Orthodox churches, two synagogues and police officers” in the two cities.

The NAC also added that the counter-terrorism operation in Makhachkala and Derbent had ended with the death of all militants.

Four civilians were killed in the attacks, however it is still unclear if these were people associated with the Churches or Synagogue Russia’s investigative committee confirmed, bringing the death toll up to 19.

Officials also confirmed the active phase of the “operational and combat measures in Makhachkala and Derbent” was completed but further investigations will continue.

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Sleeper Cells

Melikov described the possible involvement of “sleeper cells” and suggested the attacks may have had foreign assistance.

However he did not emphasize if these attacks were supported by countries such as Iran and Qatar or Islamic terror groups such as ISIS and Hezbollah.

“Operative-search and investigative measures will be carried out until all participants of the sleeper cells are identified, which, undoubtedly, include some that were organized from abroad,” Melikov added.

Three days of mourning have been declared in Dagestan following the deadly shootings, with state flags lowered to half-staff, according to Melikov.

Financial assistance will also be given to families of the victims, according to official media statements released by Russian Athorities.

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Murdered Orthodox Priest

The Orthodox priest killed during an attack on a church in Derbent was identified as Father Nikolay by Dagestan Public Monitoring Commission Chairman Shamil Khadulaev.

“They slit his throat. He was 66 years old and very ill,” Khadulaev stated in a statement to media.

Video footage, shared by the Republic of Dagestan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, confirms at least a dozen law enforcement officers protecting sites in Russia.

Officers stood outside the gates of the Cathedral of the Assumption located in Svyato-Uspenskiy Sobor.

The group of law enforcement personnel appear to be fully armed and wearing tactical gear standing outside the gates of a cathedral in northwest Makhachkala.

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