Russia on brink as gunmen go on killing spree in Muslim region sparking fears of ISIS war

A deadly shootout has erupted in Dagestan, a troubled region in southern Russia, where gunmen opened fire on police officers in a violent and chaotic scene.

The attack happened on Monday afternoon in the capital city of Makhachkala. According to officials, the violence started when traffic police tried to stop a car, and the men inside began shooting.

Three police officers were killed in the gunfire. In response, officers shot back, killing two of the attackers. However, some of the other gunmen managed to escape in another car and have not been caught yet, according to reports from Russian state media.

Footage shared on social media showed bodies lying near a police car, with gunshots still echoing in the background. The situation was so intense that several people were injured in the crossfire, including two more police officers, two of the attackers, and even civilians—one of them a 17-year-old girl.

At least one of the wounded died in the hospital, and authorities have now opened a criminal investigation. There is growing concern that the attackers may have ties to ISIS, which has been active in the region for years.

Dagestan, a Muslim-majority area in Russia’s North Caucasus, has experienced frequent violence and terror attacks. Just a few months ago, security forces shot and killed four men they said were ISIS militants planning to attack a government building.

ISIS has been slowly increasing its presence in Dagestan and the wider North Caucasus region. Abdurashid Magomedov, the interior minister of Dagestan, once warned that over 1,000 ISIS members were believed to be operating in the area.

In one particularly brutal attack in the city of Kizlyar, ISIS militants killed five people and wounded five more during a shooting spree.

The region is also dealing with rising tensions with its neighbor Chechnya over disputed land, adding to the instability.

Last year in June, Dagestan was hit by another major terrorist attack when gunmen targeted churches, synagogues, and police stations in the cities of Makhachkala and Derbent. That attack killed at least 20 people, including five of the gunmen, and left nearly 50 others injured.

The ongoing violence has made Dagestan one of the most dangerous and unstable parts of Russia, with officials struggling to contain extremist threats and prevent further bloodshed.