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Red terror alert declared in Almaty

18 July 2016 13:19 (UTC+04:00)
Red terror alert declared in Almaty

By Rashid Shirinov

At least two armed men attacked the Almaly district police station and Kazakh National Security Committee (NSC) in the center of Almaty in he early hours of July 18, the Kazakh media reported.

One attacker has been detained, and his identity was established. The 27-year-old man is suspected of murdering a woman last weekend. The second gunman is still at large, the Almaty Department of Internal Affairs states.

Three policemen and one civilian died and several others were injured following the attack. At least five victims were taken to hospital, and the total number of those injured is currently being determined.

Almaty witnesses speak about at least 10 shots fired. “At first, there were three or four single shots fired, and then there were several. The unknown attacker ran away with the machine gun, and the police ran after him,” employees at nearby offices told Bestnews.kz.

Kazakh Internet users also spread this information – “an unknown person shot with a machine gun at police, trying to stop their car”. Gunfire was heard in three districts of Almaty, Kazakh security sources state.

Currently, a special Siren plan is held by Almaty police. The areas near police Departments, as well as near the Department of the NSC have been blocked off by police. The railway station was also closed in Almaty.

The police announced a red level anti-terror alert in the city, which means the level of danger is critical. It is declared only when authorities know that a terrorist act has been committed, and when there is a possibility that further attacks will take place.

When setting red level of terrorist threat, the police are allowed to make personal inspection and examination of things and vehicles of population and to temporarily limit or prohibit their movement. The police can also freely enter living and other premises.

The local Department of Internal Affairs says an anti-terror operation is underway in the city, urging Almaty residents not to leave their apartments and avoid public places. They were also 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 department said.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz

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