Kyrgyzstan tightens security along border with Kazakhstan after group of extremists escape from prison
BISHKEK. Oct 12 (Interfax) - Kyrgyzstan is tightening security along its border with Kazakhstan following the recent escape of prisoners, Kyrgyz State Border Service spokesperson Gulmira Borubayeva told Interfax on Monday.
"The Kyrgyz-Kazakh portion of the state border has been switched to a tighter security level; additional state border guard units deployed to ensure the protection of the border," Borubayeva said.
Tighter border controls have been introduced at border crossing checkpoints along the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border and some 'extraordinary internal security measures' have been undertaken at the State Border Service, she said.
Nine convicts, most of whom are supporters of Jaishul Mahdi, the terrorist organization founded by followers of Alexander Tikhomirov, also known as Said Buryatsky (killed in Russia in March 2010) and banned in Russia, escaped from Prison No. 50 of the Kyrgyz state penitentiary service on Sunday night, October 12.
When police tried to stop the offenders, three officers of the state penitentiary service were killed and one severely wounded. One of the escapees was also injured. For the moment, five of the nine fugitives have been detained. Four are still at large.
