Police in Kazakh city of Almaty have engaged in a shootout with an unknown suspect, the Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency reported Monday morning.
Residents told the agency that officers had warned them to stay away from the area on Abylai Khan Avenue, claiming that a “special operation” was underway.
The shootout began when a man tried to force his way into the Almaty Region Department of Internal Affairs. He was denied entry, after which he seized an officer's gun and fled.
Eyewitness Bolat Mukasheva told Interfax that one participant of the shootout was in a car and heavily injured, while a further two were lying in the street.
Interfax now reports that four people have died, including three police officers and one civilian whose car the gunman attempted to steal.
State-run news agency TASS reports a dozen officers wounded and in the hospital.
Kazakh law enforcement has not yet commented on the situation. The
city has been placed under the highest level of terrorism alert, RT
reported.
