9 terror attacks prevented in Kazakhstan so far this year

Nine terrorist attacks have been prevented in Kazakhstan since the beginning of this year, Deputy Chairman of the National Security Committee Nurgali Bilisbekov said Thursday.

Since 2011, 64 extremist actions were prevented at the early stages of preparation, Bilisbekov said during a meeting in Astana.

Mostly the attacks were planned to happen in crowded places, he said.

Some 45 Kazakhstan citizens have been involved in the conflicts in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, Bilisbekov said.

During the last five years, more than 400 people in the country have been convicted of committing crimes linked to terrorism, Bilisbekov said. Endi