MAKHACHKALA. June 24 (Interfax) - The number of militants killed in the Russian inner republic of Dagestan has grown to six, the republic's head Sergei Melikov said.
"The active stage of the operation in Makhachkala and Derbent is now over. Six militants have been killed," Melikov said on Telegram after a meeting of the headquarters set up after the attacks in Derbent and Makhachkala.
He said the operation would continue until every culprit behind the terror attacks was identified.
Melikov asked the residents and tourists to stay calm.
"The authorities and law enforcement agencies keep control over the situation," Melikov said.
The Dagestani Interior Ministry said on Sunday evening that a synagogue and a church in Derbent and a church and a traffic police post in Makhachkala had been attacked.
The head of Dagestan reported deaths of over 15 police officers and a number of civilians.
A source in law enforcement agencies told Interfax earlier that security service officers had identified three militants killed in Dagestan. Two of them could be sons of the head of the Sergokala district administration, and the third one could be his nephew. The official was detained.
The Dagestani Interior Ministry reported hospitalization of 16 people, including 13 police officers and three civilians, in Makhachkala.
The Russian Investigative Committee's branch in Dagestan opened criminal cases on terror attack counts following the attacks in Derbent and Makhachkala.