Kyrgyz Jaish al-Mahdi suspect captured

BISHKEK – Kyrgyz State National Security Committee (GKNB) agents August 7 detained a suspected member of Jaish al-Mahdi (Army of the Redeemer of Islam) in Bishkek, the GKNB press office said August 8.

The suspect was identified only as M.K., born in 1974.

Agents searching the suspect’s residence found religious-extremist literature and a weapons cache, including combat knives, bomb components, detonator capsules and fuses, the GKNB said. The suspect is in custody while the investigation continues.

Jaish al-Mahdi is suspected of a series of terrorist acts in Bishkek in late 2010 and early 2011, including a November 2010 bombing outside the Bishkek Sports Palace, the attempted December 2010 car bombing of a police station and the January 2011 slaying of three police officers.