Authorities in the Russian republic of Dagestan say three suspected insurgents were killed Friday in a shootout with police.

Law enforcement officials say a police patrol stopped a suspicious car during the night at a checkpoint in the capital Makhachkala. Police say the occupants of the car started shooting, and the police returned fire, killing all three.

Interfax reports the three insurgents are suspected of involvement in the killing of the deputy commander of the OMON-1 squad of the Interior Ministry of Dagestan, Shamil Murtuzaliyev.

The event is just the latest in a series of clashes between separatist insurgents and police that plague Dagestan.