Dozens killed in Kazakhstan unrest, cop found beheaded

Dozens of protesters were killed in Kazakhstan in attacks on government buildings and at least 12 police officers died, including one who was found beheaded, authorities said Thursday. 

Kazakhstan is experiencing the worst street protests the country has seen since gaining independence three decades ago.

As per reports, there were attempts to storm buildings overnight in the country's largest city, Almaty, and “dozens of attackers were liquidated,” police spokeswoman Saltanat Azirbek said. 

Saltanat Azirbek told the horrible incident on state news channel Khabar-24.   

The reported attempts to storm the buildings came after widespread unrest in the city on Wednesday, including seizure of the mayor’s building, which was set on fire. 

Several government buildings have been set ablaze and at least eight law enforcement officers also have been killed. 

A Russia-led military alliance, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, said early Thursday that it would send peacekeeper troops to Kazakhstan at the request of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The country has been rocked by intensifying protests that began on Sunday over a sharp rise in prices for liquefied petroleum gas fuel. 

The protests began in the Kazakhstan’s west but spread to Almaty and the capital city Nur-Sultan.