Nearly 8,000 detained in Kazakhstan amid deadly unrest  

The authorities in Kazakhstan said Monday that nearly 8,000 people have been detained by police since mass protests began early this month 

As per country’s Interior Ministry, during protests that descended into violence last week and marked the worst unrest 7,939 individuals have been taken into custody including 207 in the commercial capital Almaty.  

The former Soviet nation has faced such chaos for the first time since gaining independence 30 years ago.  

The statement added, the detainees were in possession of stolen goods looted from two markets in Almaty.

Earlier today (January 10), the country's intelligence agency National Security Committee said two groups involved in the protests in Almaty were "neutralized."

On Sunday, the Interior Ministry said that over 1,300 security personnel were injured while protecting public order.

The protests against an increase in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices turned into countrywide unrest over the past week.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared a state of emergency in Almaty and the oil-rich Mangystau region, from where the protests spread to the rest of the country. 

The Health Ministry said Sunday that 164 people, including three children, were killed in the unrest.