Aktobe blast may be connected to radical religious group

Kazakhstan's Central Spiritual Governance for Muslims does not preclude involvement of radicals in the explosion in Aktobe National Security Commission Department, Tengrinews.kz reports. “It is possible that radical religious groups are involved in the accident. In Islam murdering of an innocent person is considered equal to murdering the whole mankind,” said the head of executive office of Kazakhstan's Central Spiritual Governance for Muslims Kairat Zholdybaiuly. “Islam curses such terrorist acts. We think that the Government should urgently start controlling all the unauthorized religious organizations and radical groups.” As per Zholdybaiuly, Kazakhstan's Central Spiritual Governance for Muslims has already applied to respective authorities with this suggestion. Earlier Tengrinews.kz English reported that Tuesday morning a suicide bomber blew a self-made bomb in Aktobe National Security Commission Department building. The bomber died and two people were injured. The same day General Prosecutor's Office unveiled the bomber's name and made a statement: “Rakhymzhan Makatov, 24, was a member of an organized criminal group, he blew himself up to dodge criminal responsibility.” General Prosecutor's Office does not qualify the blast as a terrorist act. Makatov turned out to be a national winner of the music contest Zhas Kanat. His friends and neighbors described him as intelligent and well-mannered. He was married and had three kids.