Kazakh official says 4 ‘terror attacks’ thwarted by national security agencies in 2024

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - A Kazakh official on Thursday said that national security agencies in the country thwarted four “terror attacks” this year.

A statement by the Kazakh presidential press service Akorda said that in a meeting with Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, head of Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee Yermek Sagimbayev said that 84 people were convicted for being involved in “terrorism and extremism” this year.

Sagimbayev said that 44 others were detained, adding that 19 “organized criminal groups” have been exposed.

“505 units of firearms, five improvised explosive devices, 45 explosive packages and 15,046 rounds of ammunition were seized from illegal circulation,” the statement said.

Sagimbayev also informed Tokayev about the prevention of the entry of 824 foreigners “involved in terrorism and extremism” into the country, it added.

He said that damages worth over 1.6 trillion Kazakh tenge ($3 billion) were prevented and almost $600 million were reimbursed to the state’s budget amid efforts to ensure "economic security and combating systemic corruption," according to the statement.