A spiritual leader of Dagestan Muslims, Sheikh Said Afandi, and five other people were killed in a blast carried out by a female suicide bomber in the Dagestan settlement of Chirkey on Tuesday.

      The female terrorist was disguised as one of believers, who every day come to see Sheikh and ask him for advice. When approaching the sheikh she set off an explosive device attached to her belt. Sheikh, his wife and several believers were killed immediately, 12-years-old boy among them.

      August 29 is announced as the day of mourning in the region.

      The spiritual leader's house has been cordoned off, a team of investigators are working at the scene.The preliminary version of the terror attack is his religious activity. In his speeches Said Afandi often opposed radical Islam movements. He was one of the most influential Sufi sheikhs in the region, his books are translated into many languages.