[Field News] Three dead, including a police officer, in a shooting attack in Dagestan, Russia

A shooting incident occurred at around 2:00 PM (local time) on the 5th in Makhachkala, the capital of the Republic of Dagestan, located at the southernmost tip of the Russian Federation, killing three people and injuring three others.

According to Russian media outlets such as Vedomosti and RIA Novosti, two unidentified assailants stole guns and vehicles from traffic police officers who were conducting a checkpoint in the area and then attempted to escape, shooting them in the process, killing two police officers and one civilian. In addition, three pedestrians, including a minor, were injured.

On the morning of the 6th, Sergei Melnikov, the head of the Republic of Dagestan, announced that "evil criminals chose crowded places for their dirty plan to terrorize public power, causing harm to civilians," and warned of harsh punishment for the criminals who were injured in the shootout to arrest them.

(Omitted)

Most terrorist incidents in Russia have involved people from Dagestan. Islamic terrorist groups linked to Dagestan have been involved in terror attacks, including the Beslan school hostage crisis in 2004, in which about 1,800 students were taken hostage and 314 of them were killed, and the Kurokus City Hall hostage crisis in March last year, in which 145 people were killed.

In response to the incident, Melnikov promised severe punishment, saying, “Dagestan will pass this ‘test of unity’ with dignity,” and “I am impressed by the fact that Dagestan citizens support the police, not the terrorists.”

Paying tribute to the victims, he emphasized, “Unity, brotherhood, and the desire to raise children in a peaceful and prosperous republic are our strength,” and “We will face this challenge together, as we have always done.”

Source: Asia Today

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in God’s lovingkindness forever. I will praise you forever, because you have done this; I will praise your name in the presence of your saints, for it is good. (Psalm 52:8-9)

God, we hear the news that a shooting incident occurred in Dagestan, resulting in casualties. Please comfort the bereaved families of the souls who have passed away through this incident, and let this incident not end in anger and hatred, but become a time of salvation for the Dagestan people to realize and know the eternal love of Jesus. Also, it is said that most of the terrorist incidents that have occurred in Russia so far have involved people from Dagestan. Please stop the hatred and animosity toward Russia that flows within the Dagestan people due to Russia’s forced conversion and invasion. What makes them fight and prevent them from doing good?

May the love of the cross of Jesus' power cover the Dagestan people, so that their hearts that could not forgive may change into hearts that can forgive. We believe that only through Jesus' loving-kindness can the Dagestan people be renewed. Now, may we realize that there is no eternal hope in anything else, and may they rise up as Dagestan people who serve only the Lord, placing their hope only in the kingdom of God! May the souls who rely on God's loving-kindness rise up and thank Jesus every day and yearn for His name.

May the global church unite in prayer for this work, and through this, may the churches of Dagestan and Russia, the body of the Lord, first forgive and awaken and endure the Lord's last war. May the Dagestan people rise up as people who praise the name of the good God, confess that they now want to fulfill the Lord's will, and advance toward God's dream for the nations!