Sources treat Kizlyar shooter as IS member

The man who shelled people in Kizlyar was a member of the "sleeping unit" of the "Islamic State" IS), a terrorist organization banned in Russia by the court, sources have stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that five people were killed during the "Maslenitsa" (Shrovetide) celebrations in Kizlyar, including the shooter. According to investigators, he was a 23-year-old local resident.

The shooter was a resident of the village of Kidero of the Tsuntin District of Dagestan, the republic's government and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) have reported.

"He had dated his crime, the shooting, to the Christian holiday," the police said.

Father Pavel, the Rector of the Saint George the Victorious Church, said that the shooter with a beard was running to the church shouting "Allah Akbar", the RBC reports.

The Dagestani Muftiate has called the gunman a Wahhabi. "Wahhabis, who hide behind pseudo-Islam, have nothing to do with the Islam," the Muftiate's website reports.

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has treated the incident as a provocation aimed at "provoking a confrontation of Orthodox believers and Muslims in the Caucasus," the "Interfax" reports.