Kazakhstan on high alert as gunmen kill policemen in AlmatyJuly 18, 2016 - 12:32 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Gunmen killed at least two policemen in Kazakhstan's financial capital Almaty in three near-simultaneous attacks on Monday, July 18, security sources and witnesses said, according to Reuters. The Interfax news agency, quoting a police source, said "a religious radical and probably a follower of non-traditional Islam" was shooting in central Almaty. The Interior Ministry said several policemen had been killed. Police cordoned off several central streets in Almaty, including one near an office of the KNB security service, where shots were also heard. The KNB said in a statement that unidentified gunmen had attacked a police station and a KNB office. The police said they had detained at least one suspected attacker, while another one remained at large, Reuters says. The RIA news agency quoted a security source as saying several policemen had also been wounded. A Reuters reporter saw a car that had been rammed by another vehicle in the same area where the detention had been reported to take place. The scene was cordoned off by police carrying assault rifles. The KNB, successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said last month it had detained several members of a group planning "terrorist acts using improvised explosive devices", after a deadly attack in the northwestern town of Aktobe. In that incident, about two dozen men described by the authorities as sympathizers of Islamic State, attacked gun stores and a national guard facility, killing seven people. Security forces killed 18 attackers, some on the same day and some in the subsequent manhunt. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |