Hostage taking at Almaty airport: police officers under investigation
As reported by the department, two employees of the linear department of the Almaty airport took part in the detention of the attacker.
After eyewitness Musa Abdraim heroically saved an airport employee, critical comments about the police officers appeared on social networks. The editorial staff of Tengrinews.kz asked the Transport Police Department how they assessed the actions of their officers.
"The police officers, together with representatives of the Almaty airport, quickly assessed the situation at the scene. Taking into account the attacker's aggression towards the employees, they acted according to the algorithm provided for ensuring the safety of citizens in the airport terminal," the department responded to an official request from our editorial staff.
Nevertheless, the transport police department is conducting an internal investigation into the incident, the results of which "will be used to provide a legal assessment."
In addition, the police checked the Almaty airport after the hijacker threatened to blow it up.
"A decision was made to conduct an explosive inspection of the airport without evacuating workers and visitors. Aviation security service dog handlers, using service dogs, inspected the airport territory (both terminals T1 and T2, the business terminal and the indoor parking lot). No explosive devices or other prohibited objects were found," the department reported.
A criminal case was opened under Article 273 of the Criminal Code ("Knowingly false report of an act of terrorism").
By the way, the investigation is also being conducted under the articles: "Taking a hostage" (paragraph 4, part 2, article 261 of the Criminal Code) - for which imprisonment for a term of 7 to 12 years with confiscation of property is provided and "Hooliganism with the use of weapons" (part 3, article 293 of the Criminal Code) - imprisonment for a term of 3 to 7 years is provided.
Earlier, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that the hostage-taker from the Almaty airport, who took the girl hostage, was arrested for two months.
Taking a hostage at the Almaty airport
On March 7, Kazakhstanis were shocked by the news - a man armed with a kitchen knife took a female employee of the Almaty airport hostage.
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According to airport officials, at approximately 11:45 AM, the suspect entered the domestic terminal (T1) disguised as a passenger. When aviation security personnel asked him to present his documents, he grabbed a female security officer by the hair and threatened her with a knife.
After 7 minutes, he was neutralized and detained. This was possible thanks to a brave man. It turned out to be Musa Abdraim - he offered himself instead of the hostage. Seizing the moment, Abdraim snatched the knife from the attacker. After that, the police managed to detain him.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was informed about the situation with the hostage taking at the Almaty airport. On the same day, by decree of the Head of State, hero was awarded a medal for courage and dedication shown in an extreme situation.