President calls Almaty skirmish terrorist attack

    President Nursultan Nazarbayev has described the gun battles in Almaty yesterday a terrorist attack, a presidential press release reports.
    "A terrorist attack occurred in Almaty today, which, unfortunately, once again led to a loss of life. I offer condolences to the relatives and friends of those killed and wounded. They should be given appropriate psychological and financial assistance," the press message quotes Nazarbayev as saying. He was speaking at a meeting of the National Security Council.
    The president also ordered relevant officials "to take all necessary steps to ensure law and order in the city."
    The Interior Minister was instructed to travel to the scene and take steps to stabilize the situation in the city together with the Almaty akim.
    “We must protect the places for the mass gathering of citizens, take urgent steps to provide medical assistance to the wounded, conduct a prompt investigation to establish the criminals’ identities," the president said.
    Nazarbayev added the government must inform the public of the city and ensure law and order.
    "It is important to thwart rumors and identify provocateurs. Citizens in Almaty and across the country must be confident the most decisive measures are being taken to restore order,” he said.
    Early on Monday, assailants attacked a district police department building in central Almaty along with a National Security Committee department.
    A red terror alert was announced in the city, security forces launched an operation to detain the individuals involved, according to TASS.