– Death Toll In Dagestan Terror Attack Rises To 20 Killed, Russians Fear More To Come:
The death toll from the Sunday terror attack on the Dagestan cities of Derbent and Makhachkala in southern Russia has risen significantly, now that further details have emerged of the religiously-inspired attack which targeted Orthodox churches and a synagogue, apparently by black-clad jihadists.
Russia’s Investigative Committee and state media announced Monday that 20 people died, including at least 15 police officers and an Orthodox priest, making it one of the biggest terror attacks in this region of the north Caucuses in decades. An additional 46 were injured.
Initial reports as news of the incident was still emerging indicated at least nine had died, mostly police officers, and that two dozen were injured.
“This evening in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala armed attacks were carried out on two Orthodox churches, a synagogue and a police checkpoint,” the statement said according to state-run RIA Novosti news agency.
Additionally six of the attackers were “liquidated” following large-scale shootouts in the streets, which also involved the assailants hurling Molotov cocktails to set fires. The attacks were highly coordinated given that the two cities where they unfolded simultaneously are 78 miles apart.
The Russian Orthodox Church later confirmed that its archpriest Nikolai Kotelnikov had been “brutally killed” in Derbent, at a moment celebrations for the feast of Pentecost were underway. It’s been widely reported that the terrorists broke into the church and cut the priest’s throat.
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MOSSAD?