Gunmen Attack Tourist Group in Russia's Dagestan: 1 Dead, 11 Injured

The victims were part of a group of 20 tourists visiting the Naryn-Kala fortress in the city of Derbent when two unknown gunmen opened fire from a nearby forest.

The dead man has been identified as a 26-year-old border police, as local authorities say they believe the shooting to be a terrorist attack by Islamist insurgents.

This is most likely a trick by some remaining bandit groups or militants who have survived and seek vengeance for the peace and tranquillity in which Derbent residents live,' Ramazan Abdulatipov told the Interfax news agency.

'We celebrated the 2,000th anniversary of Derbent town and this gave the people hope for living in peace. But apparently there are still people who are annoyed by this stability,' he said.

The group was reportedly made up of locals from Derbent and the surrounding Derbentskiy District, and had been standing on a panoramic terrace of the ancient fortress when the gunmen attacked.

Local police are reportedly searching for two men, who fled the scene in a black Lada Priora car, after firing some 70 shots at the tourists.

'As a result of a gun attack 12 people were hurt, one of whom died,' an official in the region's health ministry told RIA Novosti.

The wounded, four of whom were in a serious condition, were getting medical treatment, the official said.

The republic of Dagestan is Russia's most ethnically diverse republic, with ethnic Russians making up just 3.6 per cent of the total population. 

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.