Moscow - A prominent priest in the Russian Orthodox church has been shot dead in his own Moscow church, reported the Interfax news agency on Friday.

Daniil Syssoyev, 35, was known as an active missionary. Authorities have not ruled out religious motives for the attack on Thursday, which left Syssoyev dead with multiple gunshot wounds.

A masked man was seen entering the sanctury Thursday night before shooting Syssoyev in the head. Another clergyman was injured in the attack.

The district attorney's office has posited that radical Islamist groups or other sects against which Syssoyev campaigned might be behind the incident. (dpa)