Kazakhstan says Salafists behind foiled terror plot
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 30 June 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Kazakhstan says Salafists behind foiled terror plot, 30 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57a43c2ae.html [accessed 4 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
June 30, 2016
Kazakh security officials say followers of an ultra-conservative branch of Islam were behind a foiled terror attack.
The Kazakh National Security Committee (KNB) said on June 29 that it had detained several members of a group that had planned "terrorist acts using improvised explosive devices."
One of the suspects killed himself by detonating such a device, according to the KNB.
Speaking to reporters on June 30, KNB head Vladimir Zhumakanov said the six detainees were Salafists, but added that they had no links to those behind a deadly attack in the city of Aqtobe earlier this month.
In that incident, about two dozen men described by the authorities as sympathizers of the Islamic State extremist group attacked gun stores and a national guard facility, killing seven people.
Security forces killed 18 attackers.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has described the Aqtobe attackers as Salafists.
Salafists follow a strict form of Sunni Islam and do not recognize other branches of Islam, such as Shi'a and Sufism.
Based on reporting by Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
