Jihadists Attack Churches, Synagogues, Killing a Priest and 15 Police Officers in Russian Region

Islamic jihadists carried out coordinated terrorist attacks against churches and synagogues in southern Russia on Sunday.

At least 20 people were killed in the attacks including 15 police officers, an Orthodox priest, and other civilians. At least 46 people were also injured. 

It happened in the southern Russian republic of Dagestan, a predominantly Muslim region, according to Russian officials.

The terrorists attacked two synagogues, two churches, and a police station in two cities. 

One synagogue was set on fire when the terrorists using Molotov cocktails stormed the holy place before evening prayers. They also killed a Russian Orthodox priest, reportedly slitting his throat before setting fire to the church.

Russian officials say six terrorists were killed when special forces were called in to put a stop to the rolling terrorist strike.

Dagestan is a mostly Muslim region with a history of Islamic radicalism. During the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) group, many residents from the Dagestan region joined the jihadist army in Iraq and Syria.

Sunday's bloodshed was the deadliest terror attack on Russia since March, when gunmen opened fire at a concert in suburban Moscow, killing 145 people. An ISIS affiliate claimed responsibility for that earlier attack.