Police gave details of special operation in Almaty

Almaty Interior Department gave details of the special operation on elimination of criminals who murdered two policemen in Almaty, Tengrinews.kz reports from the briefing in Almaty police office. Police showed the weapons seized during the operation on elimination of the criminals: two Kalashnikov guns, two pistols, one sawed-off shotgun and other ammunition. According to head of Almaty Interior Department’s press-service Saltanat Azirbek, the age of the criminals ranged from 25 to 40. They were all members of a criminal group. Police is currently checking their connections with religious unions. “The special operation was held in the following way: policemen were asking the criminals hiding in an apartment on the fourth floor to surrender for 15 minutes after 11:50 a.m. The criminals refused to surrender. They replied with gunshots,” Azirbek said and added that there were no victims among police officers or civilians. 162 people were evacuated from the building before the beginning of the operation. “The special operation was accurate and well-coordinated. We obtained information on the criminals’ location. Investigation and operational groups was formed after they shot down a 40-y.o. policeman on July 28. As for the second officer, his heart stopped today, but the doctors managed to bring him back,” she said. However the second policemen died later the same day. The criminals were born in East-Kazakhstan, Zhambyl and Almaty oblasts. All of them served difference prison sentences in East-Kazakhstan oblast in recent years. They arrived in Almaty to make money and, according to the press-secretary, all their activities were of the criminal manner. The group was dealing in theft and armed assaults. Its members were previously arrested for infliction of bodily injuries, heavy and very heavy crimes. The special operation on apprehension of the policeman’s murder suspects was held on July 30 in a multi-storey building No.37 of Akhsel Kent region at the crossing of Raiymbek and Yassaui streets in Almaty. The territory around the building was cordoned by police and special forces. Witnesses heard shooting and several explosions. Four to six criminals were shot down during the operation. On July 28 Buran-170 patrol car was attacked in Almaty. One policeman was shot on the spot, another one was wounded in the head. He was in coma and died in a hospital. According to the preliminary information, the criminals took possession of the policemen’s service guns. By Roza Yessenkulova