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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Islamist group sez it did Kazakh blasts |
| 2011-11-02 |
| ALMATY: An Islamist group has claimed responsibility for two explosions in a western Kazakh oil city after threatening violence in the Central Asian state, a US-based online monitoring service said. The suspected bomber was the only person killed in the blasts on Monday, which occurred close to administrative buildings in Atyrau, close to the Caspian Sea about 2,500 km (1,553 miles) west of the capital Astana. Intelligence monitoring group SITE said a message on an online forum attributed to the Jund Al-Khilafah group said the bombings were a response to the government’s “indifference” to its warnings to repeal new laws restricting religious freedoms. Mainly Muslim Kazakhstan adopted new legislation last month that bans prayer rooms in state buildings and requires all missionaries to register with authorities every year. Authorities moved to adopt the new law soon after security forces in August detained 18 people in Atyrau on suspicion of planning “acts of terror.” News agency Novosti-Kazakhstan quoted Bolat Daukenov, deputy governor of Atyrau region, as saying Monday’s bombings were the “last breath” of the group of people arrested. Jund Al-Khilafah (Soldiers of the Caliphate) said it would carry out more attacks unless the law were repealed, SITE reported. The group denied reports it was a suicide attack and said the person carrying the bomb died when it exploded accidentally. The Atyrau region prosecutor’s office said it had identified the |
| Posted by:Steve White |