Tengrinews.kz – The son of the man who disarmed the knife-wielding attacker at Almaty International Airport has shared details about his father.
The incident took place on March 7 at approximately 11:45 AM in the pre-flight security check area of the domestic terminal (T1). A disruptive man posing as a passenger entered the checkpoint and, when asked to present his documents by aviation security staff, grabbed a female officer by the hair and threatened her with a knife.
During negotiations, a passerby offered to take the woman’s place as a hostage. At a critical moment, another man in a brown T-shirt seized the opportunity, grabbed the knife from the attacker, and helped neutralize him, allowing law enforcement officers to detain him.
"My father was a Wushu-Sanda champion when he was younger. There are five of us in the family. I’m on my way to see him now. The most important thing is that he’s okay," said his son, Aidos.
Recognizing the man’s bravery, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has ordered that he be awarded a state honor.