By Bond Robertson 
Latest: The Astra Telegram channel reported that 23 people had been injured and five killed – this has not been confirmed by official sources.
NTB reported that six police officers were killed and twelve injured following the attacks. Information must come from local authorities.
Russian authorities refer to the attack as a terrorist act.
according to Rhea A priest and a church guard should also have been killed in Derbent and Makhachkala respectively.
A policeman was shot dead after several people opened fire on a synagogue and a church in the city of Derbent in the Republic of Dagestan on the Caspian Sea, the Russian Interior Ministry reported.
This was reported by the state-controlled Russian news agency RIA.
Video clips circulating on the Telegram messaging service show the fire burning in the synagogue. Video clips showing gun battles are also circulating.
In addition, the Ministry of Interior reported that a policeman was killed and six others were injured after shooting in the republic's capital, Makhachkala.
It is currently unknown what the background of the events is.
The Baza channel on Telegram – known for its close contact with Russian authorities – reported the death of two attackers.
The RIA news agency reported the same thing – citing the Interior Ministry that two of the attackers had been killed.
The Astra channel wrote on Telegram that local authorities reported the arrest of two people.
The Investigative Committee of Russia wrote in a telegram that it had launched a terrorism investigation as a result of the attacks.
The issue is updated