MOSCOW, February 18 (RIA Novosti) - A police officer shot dead three people who attacked him in a cafe in Makhachkala, the capital of Russia’s North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan, a spokesman for the republic’s interior ministry said on Monday.

A source in the region’s investigative committee said late on Sunday that a shooting broke out in a Dagsetani cafe, in which three people died, but gave no further details.

“A Dagestani police officer, who was not on duty, spotted a brawl in the Timur cafe while passing by. When he decided to intervene and break up the fight, the troublemakers attacked him and tried to seize his government-issued weapon,” the spokesman said.

“The officer followed the instructions and fired warning shots into the air, but this didn’t stop the attackers. After that, he shot to kill. The three attackers died on site,” he added.

A team of investigators is currently working on site.

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