Gunmen in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Dagestan have killed six police officers in a series of attacks, security officials said.
Twelve other police officers were also injured in the attack.
A synagogue, two churches and a police checkpoint were targeted in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala.
A Russian Orthodox priest was also killed and at least two attackers were shot to death, state media reported, citing the local Interior Ministry.
The hunt for more gunmen continues.
The attacker has not been identified, but Dagestan has been the site of Islamist attacks in the past.
Videos on social media showed buildings on fire in both cities.
In another video, people wearing dark clothes fired at police cars before a convoy of emergency service vehicles, sirens blaring, arrived at the scene in Makhachkala, Dagestan’s largest city.
An unofficial channel on the Telegram messaging app Mash said the gunman was trapped inside a building in Derbent.
Russia’s Investigative Committee said it had launched a criminal investigation into “terrorist acts”, AFP reported.
