Hunt for ‘gunman in second attack’ after 20 people shot dead over the weekend

Footage showed the operation on the ground in the city centre of Makhachkala

A search for a ‘gunman’ was ongoing overnight in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Dagestan where 20 people were killed over the weekend.

Men armed with automatic weapons stormed Orthodox churches and synagogues on Sunday, gunning down at least 15 police officers and four civilians, including a priest.

There were reports of another attack in Makhachkala, one of the two cities still in mourning after the rampage less than 48 hours ago.

Footage circulating on Telegram showed multiple police units hunting for another gunman.

Reports on social media said ‘multiple shots were fired’ on one of the city’s main squares.

Police conducted checks on several streets in Makhachkala urging people to flee the area.

Civilians were shown taking refuge in bars as armed officers were deployed amid the popping sound of gunfire heard in one of the videos being shared online.

Gayana Garieva, spokesperson for the region’s internal affairs ministry, stressed that any reports of a gunman and a second attack remain unconfirmed.

In an attempt to reassure people in Makhachkala, she told RIA news agency: ‘Everything is calm.’

A representative of the ministry told TASS state news agency that after a couple of hours, police removed the cordon from around the University Square in the city centre.

Russian media reported that police continued with further checks and stopping suspicious vehicles.

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