Attack on police and shooting reported in Dagestan
Illustrative photo: Shooting in Dagestan (Russian media)
Gunfire and an attack on a police station occurred on the outskirts of Makhachkala, the capital of the Republic of Dagestan (Russia). A counterterrorism operation was declared in the Semender area, according to the administration of Makhachkala and Russian media.
According to Russian media, security forces are conducting search operations in the Semender settlement of Makhachkala's Kirovsky district to identify and arrest those responsible for attacking a local police station. A counterterrorism operation was declared on March 5 at 00:25 local time.
"The operational headquarters in Dagestan is calling on all residents of the republic to stay vigilant and provide full support to law enforcement in combating extremism and terrorism," stated the city administration.
The authorities also noted that during the counterterrorism operation and until further notice, special measures and temporary restrictions would be in place.
Local source Netipichnaya Makhachkala Dagestan reported that several young people and police officers were involved in the shootout in Semender.
Following the incident, Russian media reported that security forces had launched an operation to eliminate the threat.
According to preliminary reports, four individuals planned an attack on a police facility in Makhachkala's Kirovsky district, and when law enforcement attempted to detain them, a shootout ensued.
Makhachkala public groups also mention that the suspects were blocked on the outskirts of Semender.
Attacks in Dagestan
Before the current incident in Dagestan, there was also a shooting in Makhachkala, the capital, on June 25 of last year. The square in the city center was blocked during the incident.
Earlier, on June 23, 2024, unknown individuals carried out a series of attacks in two cities of Dagestan - Derbent and Makhachkala. They opened fire on an Orthodox church and a synagogue and also targeted law enforcement officers. The attacks resulted in up to 20 fatalities, including a priest, with numerous casualties among Russian police officers. It was later revealed that the attackers included the sons of the head of the Sergokalin district of Dagestan, Omarov, who was arrested.
According to analysts from the Institute for the Study of War, these attacks in Dagestan were likely carried out by the North Caucasus branch of the terrorist group Islamic State.
