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5 killed, 7 injured in Almaty terrorist attack on police station (GRAPHIC) 5 killed, 7 injured in Almaty terrorist attack on police station (GRAPHIC)
(35 minutes later)
At least five people were killed and seven injured in a suspected Islamist attack on a police station in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city. President Nursultan Nazarbaev has announced that it was a terror act.At least five people were killed and seven injured in a suspected Islamist attack on a police station in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city. President Nursultan Nazarbaev has announced that it was a terror act.
At least 10 shots were fired, local media outlet 365info.kz reported, citing witnesses. The figure was announced by the city’s counterterrorism headquarters. Authorities had reported earlier that three policemen and one civilian had been killed in the attack. The three murdered police officers, who were 24, 28 and 42-year old, were all reportedly married with children.
According to the Kazakhstan’s Health Ministry, eight people were hospitalized in critical condition following the shootout in downtown Almaty. A source at Almaty hospital told Reuters that six people had been killed in the shootout, while eight people were hospitalized, most of them in serious or critical condition.
One of the attackers has been detained. A group of people attacked a police station in Almaty, triggering a manhunt in the city.
A weapon stolen from a police officer was found with the detained malefactor and confiscated. As the events began to develop, witnesses reported on social networks that “an unknown person wearing black was shooting with assault rifle at police, trying to stop [their] car, and then ran in the eastern direction.”
Police have also detained a second suspect likely linked to the assault on the police station in Almaty who was standing behind the criminal when he was trying to penetrate the police station. “At first there were three or four single shots fired, and then there was a round. The unknown attacker ran away with an assault rifle (Kalashnikov), and the policemen ran after him,” employees at nearby offices told Bestnews.kz media outlet.
“At first there were three or four single shots fired, and then there was a round. The unknown attacker ran away with the machine gun, and the policemen ran after him,” employees at nearby offices told Bestnews.kz media outlet. Gunfire was heard in three districts of Almaty, security sources said, as cited by TASS new agency.
Other witnesses reported on social networks that “an unknown person wearing black was shooting with a machine gun at police, trying to stop [their] car, and then ran in the eastern direction.” The areas near police headquarters, as well as near the Department of the National Security Committee have been blocked off by police, and the railway station was briefly closed.
Gunfire had been heard in three districts of Almaty, security sources said, as cited by TASS new agency. A red level anti-terror alert was announced for the city, meaning the level of danger was critical. It is enacted only when authorities know that a terrorist act has been committed, and that there is still a possibility that more may take place.
At least five shooting victims have been rushed to hospital, and the total number of those injured is being determined, local media reported, citing medics. An anti-terror operation was being conducted in Almaty, the local interior ministry said, while asking residents not to leave their apartments and avoid public places. Locals were also asked to inform police of any suspicious people, and treat the situation with understanding.
The operation is now over, and red level alert has been lifted. Two suspects have been detained. A weapon stolen from a killed police officer was reportedly found on one of them.
The areas near police headquarters, as well as near the Department of the National Security Committee have been blocked off by police. The railway station was briefly closed.
A red level anti-terror alert has been announced in the city, meaning the level of danger is critical. It is enacted only when authorities know that a terrorist act has been committed, and that there is still a possibility that more will take place.
An anti-terror operation is underway in Almaty, the local interior ministry said, asking residents not to leave their apartments and avoid public places. Locals have also been asked to inform police of any suspicious people, and treat the situation with understanding.
“The public will be additionally informed about any changes in the situation,” the interior department press service said.
READ MORE: Police arrest, kill radical Islamist gang, after attack on military base in KazakhstanREAD MORE: Police arrest, kill radical Islamist gang, after attack on military base in Kazakhstan
Last month, two gun shops were robbed, a bus was hijacked, and a military base in the western Kazakh city of Aktobe came under attack from local Islamists, who killed seven people, and wounded 37, most of whom were servicemen. Last month, two gun shops were robbed, a bus was hijacked, and a military base in the western Kazakh city of Aktobe came under attack from local Islamists, who killed seven people and wounded 37, most of whom were servicemen.
READ MORE: Kazakhstan issues nationwide ‘yellow’ terrorism alert after Islamist attack on military baseREAD MORE: Kazakhstan issues nationwide ‘yellow’ terrorism alert after Islamist attack on military base