World » Europe

Daesh claims responsibility for Russia church shooting

MOSCOW — Daesh (the so-called IS) on Monday claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on churchgoers in Russia’s Dagestan region. At least five people were killed and four wounded when a gunman opened fire with a hunting rifles on people leaving a Sunday service at a Russian Orthodox church in the Dagestan city of Kizlyar. Authorities say the gunman was a local resident, and his wife has been detained for questioning. But police haven’t commented on the possible motive for the attack. Dagestan is a predominantly Muslim region situated between Chechnya and the Caspian Sea. Following two separatist wars in neighboring Chechnya, an insurgency spread to Dagestan. A statement from Daesh, posted on Monday on a website, claimed responsibility for the shooting. The authenticity of the statement couldn’t be confirmed, but the website is regularly used by Daesh for posting militant statements.