20 people dead after synagogue and church attacks in southern Russia

Ciaran Jenkins: Russia’s southern region of Dagestan held the first of three days of mourning today – following an attack by suspected Islamist militants which killed at least 20 people and injured scores more.

The incident began around 6pm yesterday, when armed men attacked an Orthodox church and a synagogue in the city of Derbent.

At the same time – gunmen opened fire at a police checkpoint in the capital Makhachkala, with gun battles reported at several locations in both cities.

It comes just three months after a major attack by Islamic State in Moscow, which killed 145 people.