Thirty people to stand trial in case of Aktobe terror attacks - Kazakh National Security Committee
ASTANA. Sept 5 (Interfax) - The investigation into the criminal case on the grounds of terror attacks in Aktobe, the Aktobe regional administrative center, was concluded and 30 people will stand trial, the Kazakh National Security Committee press service said on Monday.
"The criminal case investigation has concluded. The case files were sent to be studied," the press service said in a report at a briefing in Astana on Monday.
According to the Kazakh National Security Service, a total of 77 criminal cases were initiated, which were consolidated into single proceedings. "Twenty-one defendants were placed into custody. Ten accessories after the fact and three accomplices are under court protection due to security measures," the report said.
A total of 215 various forensic examinations and 26 research tasks were appointed and carried out in the case.
"The decision was made regarding 18 eliminated terrorists to cease the prosecution due to their death and they were buried in accordance with current legislation," the report said.
"As agreed with the prosecutor's office of the region, the court extended the investigation period and the suspects' term of placement into custody to four months. Overall 30 suspects, nine terrorists, 18 of those who failed to report the crime and three accessories after the fact, will be brought before justice," the report said.
The investigation came to the conclusion that the terror attack occurred spontaneously, under the ideological influence and a directive of an Islamic State [ISIL, terrorist organization banned in Russia, Kazakhstan and a number of countries] representative known as Sheik Abdani to commit the terror attacks at places of residence in the Holy Month of Ramadan, the report said.
A group of religious radicals attacked two weapons stores and a military unit in Aktobe on June 5. As a result, seven people were killed, including three servicemen and four civilians. During the counter-terrorist operation, 18 extremists were killed and nine arrested. The operation ended on June 12. The weapons they had seized were confiscated.
A moderate 'yellow' level of terrorist threat was declared in Kazakhstan directly after the attack and remains in force.