Blood Everywhere As Gunman Suddenly Opens Fire On Innocent Worshipers Leaving Church Service

According to a report by Daily Mail UK, as many as five women have been killed while leaving a church service in southern Russia.

 

Another five people were wounded during the shooting at the Orthodox Christian house of worship, leaving blood splattered all over the place.

 

Tass news agency said the slaughter occurred outside a church in the town of Kizlyar in Dagestan. 

 

The agency cited Mayor Alexander Shuvalov as the source for the number of people killed and wounded.

 

A police source told Tass: 'The shooter was gunned down.' 

 

The assailant was identified as a 22-year-old man local to the region, the TASS news agency said, citing the investigative committee. He has been reported dead. 

 

He was shot and killed by security services who were on duty nearby, TASS said, adding that a hunting rifle, bullets and a knife were discovered on his person. 

 

Russian news agencies said the attack occurred as churchgoers celebrated Maslenitsa, a Christian holiday marking the last day before Lent according to the eastern Orthodox calendar. 

 

Two of those hurt were reportedly security personnel. 

 

Russian state-funded broadcaster RT reports that an eyewitness explained the shooting happened just outside a church. 

 

Oksana told RT: 'There were a lot of people there, moms with little children, elderly people. 

 

She added that the gunman was killed while trying to flee the scene.    

 

According to RBK, the priest of the attacked church said the perpetrator wore a beard and shouted 'Allahu Akbar' during the slaughter.

 

Father Pavel also told the broadcaster the attacker was armed with a knife as well as a gun.  

 

Dagestan is a predominantly Muslim region between Chechnya and the Caspian Sea. 

 

Following two separatist wars in neighboring Chechnya, an Islamist insurgency spread to Dagestan.

 

Kizlyar is a city of around 50,000 people.