Places of worship attacked in Russia’s Dagestan; priest, seven security personnel killed (Lead)

Moscow, July 23 (IANS) Two Orthodox churches, a synagogue, and a traffic police station in Russia’s Dagestan region were attacked on Sunday, leaving a priest and at least seven security personnel, including six local policemen, dead, reports said.

A counter-terrorism operation has been launched in Dagestan in response to the attacks as an exchange of fire is still underway at some of the sites, some of which are in flames too, RT reported.

The attacks took place in Makhachkala, the regional capital, as well as the city of Derbent. Russian authorities have termed the attackers members of an “