Police in Russia's North Ossetia have launched an inquiry following a campaign of online harassment targeting women through the Telegram channel Kavkazskaya Obshchina ("Caucasian Community"). The channel's administrators published women's personal information, insulted them and issued threats of violence over behaviour they claimed violated Caucasian traditions.
As a result of the terrorist attacks in Makhachkala and Derbent, 24 people were killed. Among them are 15 police officers, 4 civilians, including a priest, and 5 attackers, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation reported.
All five invaders were natives of the Sergokalinsky region of Dagestan, Baza reported. Among them are two sons and a nephew of the head of the Sergokalinsky district, Magomed Omarov. During interrogation, he stated that his children are Wahhabis. According to him, in recent years he has not communicated with his sons. The official assured investigators that he does not consider himself a member of this movement.
After the attacks in Dagestan, a statement appeared online from the Al-Azaim media group associated with IS (the organization is recognized as terrorist and banned in Russia), praising the “brothers from the Caucasus” for their actions.
The Russian Union of Travel Industry does not advise citizens to travel to Dagestan. It is reported that Russian Railways will accept previously purchased tickets with a full refund.