Church Shooting in Russia's Dagestan Leaves Five Women Dead

A church shooting that happened in Russia's volatile republic of Dagestan, has left five woman dead and five others, including a police officer and a national guardsman, injured after a man fired at people exiting the church after an evening service in the city of Kizlyar. Russian officials says two people are in critical condition.

The attacker, later identified to be 22 year Khalil Khalilov, was shot and killed at the crime scene. The attack by the resident of Dagenston, has been claimed by the Islamic Sates but no proof was immediately provided

Four of the five women died at the scene. The gunman, equip with a hunting rifle, opened fire on worshipers using leaving service during Maslenitsa - a traditional pre-Lent festival, Russian media report.

One of the church priest was quoted by news outlet RBK, saying "We had finished the mass and were beginning to leave the church. A bearded man ran towards the church shouting 'Allahu Akbar' (God is greatest) and killed four people. He was carrying a rifle and a knife."

Moscow's Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church describes the shooting as a "monstrous crime", it is meant to create conflict between the Christian and Muslim populace in Dagestan.

The administrative body for Sunni Muslims in the region, The Dagestan Muftiate, conveyed their sadness over the attack, labeling the gunman as a "Wahhabi", someone with no connection to true Islam. Wahhabism is an ultra-conservative form of Sunni Islam followed by Saudi Arabia's ruling family and religious establishment.

Dagestan is an ethnically diverse and largely Muslim federal republic that is located in Russia's North Caucasus.





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