In Astana, law enforcement detained a man who seized control of a Kaspi bank branch after the building was stormed. The operation was reported as successful by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
According to official statements, all employees were released and the intruder was neutralized. None of the hostages or occupiers were injured during the operation, according to law enforcement sources who provided a postaction update. The situation remained under control as medical teams assessed everyone involved.
From the ORDA Telegram channel there is mention that one officer sustained a minor injury during the assault, reportedly a fall while entering the building. The post suggested the officer may have been disoriented by the stun grenades used during the confrontation.
After the hostages were freed, security teams conducted a search of the premises to check for explosive devices. It was noted that the suspect had carried a bag during the incident.
What happened
On June 18, a man took seven female employees and one male employee hostage at the Kaspi bank branch in Astana. The bank organization confirmed those held were staff members of Kaspi Bank.
Police teams cordoned off the building and evacuated nearby residents as a seizure notice was issued. The information was reported by the Telegram channel Astanovka98.
Local media indicated that special forces, along with high-level officials including the Minister of Internal Affairs, Marat Akhmetzhanov, and Astana Akim Zhenis Kassymbek, arrived at the scene to oversee the operation.
The assailant demanded that all Kaspi assets be transferred to a charitable fund for disabled children, the poor and those in need. He gave a three hour deadline and warned that hostages would be harmed if the demand was not met.
Telegram channel Shot indicated that authorities had identified the attacker. The channel named the suspect as Alihan Muradov, a man reportedly facing financial difficulties and credit problems.
Mash Telegram channel described Muradov as a native of the Zhambyl region with prior legal issues. It was noted that he had been registered with a drug dispensary as far back as 2013 and had been considered a suspect in multiple criminal cases on more than one occasion.
Video footage circulating online appeared to show a man holding a young girl at gunpoint, wearing a likely protective vest. The footage raised concerns about the risk to hostages during the standoff.
Given the threat to the hostages, authorities delayed a direct raid for safety reasons. The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs personally met with the suspected attacker and led discussions during the critical hours of the incident.
The press service of Kaspi Bank stated that all police and bank personnel were focused on ensuring that no one would be harmed during the operation.