In a devastating series of events, multiple synagogues, Orthodox churches, and a police post were targeted by gunmen in Russia's North Caucasus region of Dagestan on Sunday. The violent attacks resulted in the loss of lives and injuries, prompting the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation to open a terrorism investigation.

According to the agency's Telegram page, armed attacks took place in the cities of Derbent and Makhachkala, leading to the deaths and injuries of both police officers and civilians. Shamil Khadulaev, chairman of the Public Monitoring Commission of Dagestan, reported that a 66-year-old priest was found with his throat slashed at an Orthodox church.

News agencies cited the Russian Interior Ministry, stating that at least two police officers were killed, while six people were wounded in the attacks. Videos circulating online depicted the horrifying scenes of buildings set ablaze and gunmen engaging in shootouts with law enforcement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel released a statement confirming the coordinated attack in Derbent and Makhachkala. It revealed that a synagogue in Derbent was burned to the ground, resulting in the deaths of local guards. Additionally, the synagogue in Makhachkala was subjected to gunfire, with further details yet to be confirmed. The statement also highlighted the attacks on churches in Makhachkala, in which a priest was tragically murdered.

Reports from Reuters indicated that shots were fired at a synagogue in Derbent, a city known for its ancient Jewish community in the North Caucasus. The agency also mentioned an exchange of gunfire at an Orthodox church, which is a UNESCO heritage site in the same town. Another shootout occurred at a police post in Makhachkala, the main city in Dagestan located about 75 miles north along the Caspian Sea coast.

Sergei Melikov, the appointed head of Dagestan by Russian President Vladimir Putin, referred to the perpetrators as "unknown persons" attempting to destabilize the social situation in Derbent and Makhachkala, as reported by Russian news agency RIA.

This horrifying incident comes just months after a terrorist attack at Moscow's Crocus City concert hall on March 22, leaving over 140 people dead and more than 180 wounded. The gunmen responsible for the attack were identified as Tajikistan nationals.

Meanwhile, on the same day, dignitaries including U.S. second gentleman Douglas Emhoff and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro commemorated the groundbreaking of a new structure at the site of Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue. The site was the location of the deadliest act of antisemitism in U.S. history, where 11 Jewish worshippers were mercilessly murdered on October 27, 2018. Emhoff, who is the first Jewish spouse of an American president or vice president, emphasized the importance of never forgetting the impact of antisemitism.

As investigation into the attacks in Dagestan unfolds, the international community continues to condemn such acts of violence against religious institutions, urging for unity and tolerance.