UPDATE - Russia says death toll from attacks on religious buildings, police checkpoint in Dagestan rose to 20

REVISES HEADLINE, SPOT & LEDE; ADDS LATEST INFORMATION ON ATTACKS IN MAKHACHKALA AND DERBENT; EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Moscow said on Monday that the death toll from Sunday attacks on religious buildings and a police checkpoint in the Russian Republic of Dagestan rose to 20.

"As a result of the terrorist attack that occurred yesterday in the republic in Makhachkala and Derbent, 46 people were injured, including both civilians and law enforcement officers. Unfortunately, 20 people died, including law enforcement officials and civilians," Dagestan's Health Minister Tatyana Belyaeva said in a video statement on Telegram.

Earlier in the day, a statement by Russia's Investigative Committee said 15 law enforcement officers were killed, as well as four civilians, including an Orthodox priest.

Authorities are continuing the investigation into the attack, the committee said, adding that five militants were eliminated during the clashes.

Russia’s National Antiterrorism Committee (NAK) said the "counter-terrorism operation” in the region was terminated after "elimination of threats to the life and health of citizens."

On Sunday, it declared a “counter-terrorism operation regime” in the cities of Makhachkala, the administrative capital of Dagestan, and Derbent following attacks by unidentified armed individuals.

The attacks targeted a police checkpoint in Makhachkala, as well as two churches and a synagogue in Derbent. The two cities are located about 128 kilometers (79.5 miles) from each other.

Sergey Melikov, the head of the Republic of Dagestan, in a video statement on Telegram announced three-day mourning in the region.

Meanwhile, the head of the Russian Republic of Ingushetia, as well as the governor of the Stavropol territory bordering Dagestan, announced that security measures were strengthened in their respective regions.

Several leaders from the region, including the presidents of China, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, and Tajikistan, as well as Armenia's premier, have extended their condolences over the incidents.