Angry crowd storms Russia’s Dagestan airport to protest flight from Israel

Hundreds of people have stormed the main airport in Russia’s Dagestan region, ostensibly to protest against the arrival of a flight from Israel amid the war in Gaza.

The crowd on Sunday broke past security, with some making it onto the runway of Makhachkala airport, before they were removed by security forces.

“More than 150 active participants in the unrest have been identified, 60 of them have been arrested,” Russia’s interior ministry said in a statement. Nine police officers were injured in clashes with the crowd, including two who were receiving treatment at a hospital.

Local news reports said the airliner in question belonged to Russian carrier Red Wings.

Social media footage showed scared passengers rushing to re-enter the plane amid commotion on the runway of Makhachkala airport.