Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Erlan Idrisov says gunmen who attacked two gun stores and a military unit in the northwestern city of Aqtobe on June 5 were following a call by the leader of the so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group.
Idrisov said on June 20 that the attacks were linked to an Internet message from Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, who called on IS supporters around the world "to conduct active violent acts" during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Idrisov said 25 men who carried out attacks in Aqtobe on June 5 were all heeding Adnani's call for violence.
Idrisov said Adnani's message, leading to deadly violence in Kazakhstan on the eve of Ramadan, demonstrates that the IS ideology is "ugly."
The attackers killed five civilians and three members of Kazakhstan's security forces on June 5.
Security forces killed 18 gunmen and arrested seven alleged attackers.
