Three police officers lost their lives, and at least four people were injured after gunmen opened fire on police in the southern Russian region of Dagestan on Monday, regional authorities stated.
According to a report by news agency Reuters, the leader of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov, confirmed that the shooting took place amid the traffic officers’ attempt to pull over the car the assailants were driving.
The assault took place at approximately 2:20 PM local time (11:20 GMT) in Makhachkala, the capital of the region, according to the interior ministry.
Total Number Of Assailants Remains Uncertain
A city administration spokesperson stated on Telegram that two of the attackers, both born in 2000, were killed. The total number of assailants remains uncertain. According to state media, some of them escaped the scene in a vehicle.
Verified video published on Telegram channels, as reported by Reuters, depicted several bodies lying near a police vehicle. After bystanders stopped to examine, more gunfire was heard nearby.
Two additional attackers, along with two police officers and multiple injured civilians, including a 17-year-old girl, were taken to a hospital. At least one of the injured later died, state media reported. Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the event.
Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim region, has seen multiple fatal attacks in recent years. In March, counter-terror forces killed four individuals linked to ISIS who were allegedly planning an assault on a local interior ministry office.
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