Dozens arrested after storming Russian airport looking for Israelis
Dozens arrested after storming Russian airport looking for Israelis
Russian authorities have arrested at least 60 people suspected of storming an airport in Dagestan, a Muslim-majority region in the Caucasus, in an attempt to target Jewish passengers arriving from Israel. The incident occurred at Makhachkala airport, where dozens of protesters, some chanting “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest), breached doors and barriers, with some even gaining access to the runway.
During efforts to restore order, nine police officers sustained injuries, and two were hospitalized, according to the interior ministry. Israel called on Russia to safeguard its citizens, while the United States condemned the “antisemitic protests.”
Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 indicated that a Red Wings flight from Tel Aviv had landed in Makhachkala on Sunday evening. The flight, originally a transit one scheduled to depart for Moscow two hours later, was disrupted by the violent protests.
Sergei Melikov, the governor of Dagestan, assured that those responsible for the incident would face punishment. The republic's interior ministry later confirmed the arrest of 60 individuals, stating that over 150 active participants in the unrest had been identified. The ministry reported that the airport was now under complete control of security forces.
