AT LEAST three people including two police officers have been killed after gunmen opened fire on a synagogue and a church in Russia.
A priest is also said to be among the deceased following the horrific attack in the North Caucasus region of Dagestan on Sunday, the region’s interior ministry said.
East2WestAn Orthodox church up in flames following the attack in Russia[/caption]
East2WestA synagogue has also been reduced to rubble[/caption]
East2WestImages show two unknown armed men caught on camera[/caption]
Russian news agencies have reported that one officer and a priest were killed when shots were fired at a synagogue, a church and a police post in Derbent.
The city is home to an ancient Jewish community in the South Caucasus and a UNESCO world heritage site.
It’s believed a further thirteen have also been wounded in the chaos.
Local media quoting the Interior Minister have confirmed that two of the attackers involved in the series of shootings have been shot dead.
“Unidentified people fired at a synagogue and a church with automatic weapons,” the interior ministry said.
“One police officer was killed and one injured.”
Russian news agency RIA reported that gunmen opened fire on the synagogue around 6pm local time.
The synagogue was on fire after the attack, local outlets report.
The attackers then fled in a car.
Another police officer was killed in an exchange of shots at a police post in Makhachkala, about 75 miles to the north along the Caspian Sea coast.
The main city in Dagestan is considered a mainly Muslim region in southern Russia.
Fighting was later reported in the streets of Makhachkala.
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