Advertisement
Supported by
Gunmen killed at least 20 other people in attacks in two cities in Dagestan. No suspects or motives have been identified, but the region has long been wracked by ethnic and religious violence.
By Eva Sampson
Two bloody attacks in Dagestan in southern Russia on Sunday sparked fears of extremist violence on the home front, as the Kremlin devotes resources to its expanding war in Ukraine.
Gunmen massacred at least 20 other people and burned down places of worship, and a video temporarily circulated on social media showing gunmen parked on a street and shooting, and more at passing vehicles. While little is known about the attacks, they struck a chord in a region long strained by separatist and ethnic tensions.
Here’s what we know:
Groups of armed men launched coordinated attacks against synagogues and Orthodox churches in two cities – Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, and Derbent –, separated by more than 120 kilometers.
Although Russian officials have characterized the violence as acts of terrorism, they have blamed the attacks on specific Americans or groups. No organization has claimed responsibility for the charge and the motive remains unknown.
The Russian investigative committee has opened a terrorism investigation.
Before a fatal attack in March at a concert hall outside Moscow, U. S. intelligence agencies had warned of an imminent attack by a branch of the Islamic State, and after that attack they temporarily declared the organization responsible.
But on Monday, U. S. officials said they had not yet decided who carried out the shooting in Dagestan.
We are recovering the content of the article.
Please allow javascript in your browser settings.
Thank you for your patience as we determine access. If you’re in player mode, log out and log in to your Times account or subscribe to the full Times.
Thank you for your patience while we determine access.
Already subscribed? Log in.
Do you want all the Times? Subscribe.
Advertisement