Tokayev awarded Almaty airport hero with medal for bravery

Tengrinews.kz - The president has awarded the Kazakh citizen who saved a hostage at Almaty International Airport.

Earlier, the Head of State praised the courage and quick thinking of Musa Abdraim, who neutralized the attacker, and instructed that he be presented with a state award.

"By decree of the Head of State, for bravery and selflessness shown in an extreme situation, Musa Sayranbaiuly Abdraim has been awarded the 'For Courage' medal," the Akorda statement said.

It should be noted that the hero who disarmed the attacker at Almaty airport and saved the hostage was 52-year-old Musa Abdraim.

The hostage situation occurred on March 7 in the pre-flight security check area of the domestic terminal (T1). At approximately 11:45 AM local time, a disruptive man posing as a passenger approached the security checkpoint. When aviation security officers asked him to present his documents, he grabbed a female security officer by the hair and threatened her with a knife.

Seven minutes later, the man was disarmed by officers from the airport’s security service and the transport police.

The Department of Transport Police later confirmed that a criminal case has been opened. The attacker has been identified as a 67-year-old man.

"As a man and citizen of Kazakhstan, I could not have acted differently" - Hero from Almaty airport