Italy smashes Afghan people-trafficking ring
A gang which trafficked mainly Afghan migrants into Europe has been broken, European police force Europol has said, BBC reports.
Almaty. January 13. Kazakhstan Today - A gang which trafficked mainly Afghan migrants into Europe has been broken, European police force Europol has said, BBC reports.
It said 26 alleged gang members had been arrested in Italy with further arrests in Germany and France.
It said the gang was responsible for smuggling about 200 illegal migrants into Europe every month, a fifth of them children.
The migrants are thought to have paid up to 5,000 euros (?4,000) to be smuggled across Europe.
The arrests on Tuesday were the result of a two-year Europol investigation, which included house searches during which some of the smuggled children were found.
Most of the migrants began their journey in Afghanistan before travelling through Pakistan, Iran and Turkey to Greece, from where they were moved on into western Europe.
Europol said those behind the gang used false EU identity documents and transferred funds through the popular Hawala network.
Piero Saviotti, a prosecutor in Rome, said some of those arrested were "suspected of involvement in international terrorism", AFP news agency reports.
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12-Year-Old Boy Dies from Stab Wounds in Almaty
A 12-year-old boy has died from stab wounds in Almaty. A 13-year-old city resident has been detained on suspicion of involvement in the crime, the city's police department said.
The tragedy occurred on June 10 in Almaty's Turksib district. According to preliminary information, the fatal injuries were inflicted during a conflict between the two minors.
A 13-year-old resident of Almaty, who was previously acquainted with the victim, has been detained on suspicion of committing the crime," police said.
A criminal investigation has been launched on suspicion of murder. The suspect has been placed in a specialised juvenile facility. Investigators are currently carrying out a series of measures aimed at establishing all the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police also said that, following the investigation, authorities will consider whether the suspect's parents should be held accountable for failing to properly fulfil their parental responsibilities.
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Ventilation Duct Collapses Near People at Almaty Airport
An incident involving a ventilation structure occurred during installation work at Almaty International Airport, an agency correspondent reports.
A video from the scene was published on Telegram by journalist Mikhail Kozachkov.
The airport's press service said that a partial separation of a ventilation component - a flexible ventilation duct - occurred while engineering systems were being installed and the duct was being lowered below ceiling level.
According to the airport, the duct had been secured in advance and was being gradually lowered to the required position for final fastening. However, during the process, the structure separated at a joint and remained suspended by safety cables.
No one was injured in the incident. All elements of the ventilation duct have since been dismantled.
Airport authorities said that additional safety measures for passengers and visitors were promptly implemented following the incident.
The situation is currently fully under control. All necessary measures have been taken, and the airport continues to operate normally in compliance with safety requirements and existing regulations," the statement said.
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Child Suffers Electric Shock from Power Line Pole Near Playground in Karaganda Region
Images | Depositphotos
A 10-year-old boy suffered severe electrical injuries after being electrocuted and falling from a height in the village of Dolinka in Kazakhstan's Karaganda Region. The child is currently in intensive care at the regional children's hospital, local media outlet ekaraganda.kz reported.
According to the victim's sister, who described the incident on social media, the accident occurred on June 1. She said the boy climbed a metal support structure of a 6,000-volt power transmission line located near a children's playground. After receiving an electric shock, he fell from the structure.
The child remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit. He sustained severe burns as well as serious injuries resulting from the fall.
Relatives claim that the power line pole was freely accessible and had not been properly fenced off.
The Karaganda Region Police Department said the incident has been officially registered. The case materials have been forwarded to the regional department of the Committee for Atomic and Energy Supervision and Control to determine whether there are grounds for a criminal investigation.
Dolinka Deputy Akim Zhasulan Khamitov said additional safety measures are planned for the site.
To strengthen safety measures, the service provider will install additional fencing to restrict access to the facility," he said.
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Suspect in Deadly Arys Crash Remanded in Custody
Images | polisia.kz
The suspect in the fatal traffic accident in Arys that claimed the lives of two children and a pregnant woman has been remanded in custody, Kazakhstan's Deputy Interior Minister Sanzhar Adilov said on the sidelines of a Mazhilis session.
The investigation is being conducted under Article 345-1 of the Criminal Code. From the outset, investigators established aggravating circumstances, namely that the driver responsible for the accident was under the influence of alcohol. This has been confirmed by forensic examination. The suspect has now been taken into custody," Adilov said.
The deadly incident became public on Monday, when authorities reported that three people were killed and two others injured after being struck by a vehicle driven by an intoxicated driver in Arys.
The suspect was identified, detained and placed in a temporary detention facility. A criminal case has been opened, and the investigation is ongoing.
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Fire Breaks Out on the Grounds of Almaty Zoo
Images | Instagram/almatyzoo
A fire broke out on the grounds of Almaty Zoo during the night of June 9.
According to the zoo's administration, the blaze started in a photo studio building and nearby excursion golf carts.
Firefighting units arrived promptly at the scene. The fire was quickly contained and fully extinguished.
The zoo said no property belonging to the facility was damaged in the incident. No employees or animals were injured.
The cause of the fire is currently being investigated by the relevant authorities.
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Earthquake Recorded in Almaty Region
Images | Depositphotos
An earthquake was recorded in the Kegen district of the Almaty Region at 9:55 p.m. on June 8, according to the regional Department of Emergency Situations.
The epicentre was located 111 kilometres southeast of Almaty, on the territory of Kazakhstan," the department said in a statement.
The tremor was felt in the village of Saty with an intensity of 2.5 points, while residents of the village of Zhalagash reported shaking measuring 2 points.
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Cladding of Residential Building Collapses onto Coffee Shop Canopy in Almaty
Images | 2GIS.kz / Sergey Nemtsev
Part of the facade cladding of an apartment building collapsed on Gogol Street in Almaty, local authorities reported. According to footage circulating on social media, the debris fell onto the canopy covering the outdoor seating area of a coffee shop.
The building's facade is clad with shell limestone. A partial detachment of facade cladding elements occurred. The building is a condominium property, and the maintenance of common property, including the facade, falls under the responsibility of the apartment owners," the Almaty Akimat said in a statement.
Authorities said that the Medeu District Akim's Office, together with the Department of Emergency Situations, is currently working to organize the removal of hazardous facade elements.
Given that a significant number of the city's apartment buildings were constructed several decades ago, the issue of facade renovation remains highly relevant. This year, under the facade modernization programme in Medeu District, the facades of 50 apartment buildings are scheduled for renovation," the statement said.
According to the Akimat, the building was constructed between 1977 and 1978.
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Two Children and Pregnant Woman Killed in Fatal Road Accident in Arys
Images | polisia.kz
Three people were killed and two others injured after a vehicle driven by an intoxicated driver struck pedestrians in the city of Arys.
According to the Police Department of the Turkistan Region, the driver of a JAC vehicle, who was under the influence of alcohol, hit several people before fleeing the scene.
Three people, including two minors, died at the scene. Two other victims were taken to hospital, where they are receiving medical treatment.
The suspect was identified, detained and placed in a temporary detention facility.
A criminal investigation has been launched into the incident, and investigative procedures are ongoing.
According to media reports, the victims were sitting on a bench near a residential building when the vehicle struck them. Reports also said that the deceased woman was pregnant.
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