Ukraine detains minor over false terror threat to Astana Mall

A minor suspected of making a knowingly false report about a planned terrorist attack at a shopping mall in Astana has been detained in the Ukrainian city of Sumy, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

The detention was carried out as part of a joint operation involving Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry and Ukraine’s Cyber Police.

During a search, law enforcement officers seized mobile phones, tablets, a laptop, a computer system unit and a bank card. Investigators found evidence on the devices, including an account allegedly used to send the threat and the text of the message.

The seized equipment is being examined to determine whether the suspect had any possible accomplices, the ministry said.

Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry also warned that knowingly false reports of bombs, terrorist attacks, hostage-taking or other threats to public safety may result in serious legal consequences.

By Vafa Guliyeva