There is an update on the situation at the Russian airport of Makhchkala, where a group of anti-Israel protesters tried to prevent a plane from Tel Aviv landing.
The Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsia said security forces had by 10.20pm (local time, 6.20am AEDT) removed the group from the airport in Dagestan, one of several areas in the north Caucasus region that is home to large Muslim communities.
The authority said the airport would remain closed pending “normalisation” of the situation. Russia’s Investigative Committee ordered a criminal probe into the incident.
Israel urged Russian authorities to protect Israelis and Jews in their jurisdictions following the reports.
A statement by the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem said the Israeli ambassador in Moscow was working with Russian authorities. “The State of Israel views gravely attempts to harm Israeli citizens and Jews anywhere,” the statement said.
Kavkaz-Realii, a division of US-funded Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty, posted videos of noisy crowds waving Palestinian flags in and around the terminal building in Makhachkala.
Other Russian media showed one group attempting to approach the aircraft, but the passengers remained safely on board. Reuters could not determine if the passengers were able to eventually disembark.
The identification number on the tail of the plane indicated it had arrived from Israel, according to the FlightRadar24 flight tracking website.
Reuters