Four people have been killed while leaving a church service in southern Russia, media in the country is reporting.
Another four people were wounded during the shooting.
Tass news agency said the slaughter occurred outside a church in the town of Kizlyar in Dagestan.
The agency cited Mayor Alexander Shuvalov as the source for the number of people killed and wounded.
A police source told Tass: ‘The shooter was gunned down.’
The perpetrator has been reported dead.
Media in the country have also reported that worshippers were celebrating the Maslenitsa festival, which marks the final week before Lent.
Russian state-funded broadcaster RT reports that an eyewitness explained the shooting happened just outside a church.
Oksana told RT: ‘There were a lot of people there, moms with little children, elderly people.
‘I believe God saved us, not allowing the man to get inside the church.’
She added that the gunman was killed while trying to flee the scene.
More to follow…