Nearly 150 civilians and 11 law enforcers were killed during riots in Kazakhstan’s Almaty, chief of the city police Kanat Taimerdenov said.
Serik Shalabayev, chief of the criminal prosecution service of Kazakhstan’s prosecutor general’s office, said on Saturday that more than 4,500 people were hurt during the riots in Kazakhstan and 225 bodies were taken to morgues.
"Eleven law enforcement officers and 149 civilians were killed in Almaty," TASS cited Taimerdenov as saying.
According to Shalabayev, the casualties include "armed bandits who took part in terror attacks and attacks on buildings and law enforcement."
As many as 249 people have been arrested in Almaty following riots in early January, the city’s prosecutor Berik Zhuiriktayev said.
"Law enforcement agencies are currently investigating 405 criminal cases. As many as 249 people have been arrested under court rulings," he said, adding that a special investigative team was set up.