AKIPRESS.COM - The Center of Security Programs studied the information of over 300 people somehow involved in extremist activity, political expert Yerlan Karin told about the results of the study during the media briefing at the Central Communications Service of Kazakhstan on April 1.

The expert says that the Center processed the information of 227 people, 150 of whom were previously convicted. In addition, cases of other 77 people involved in the extremist activity were studied by the experts.

"The study showed that the majority of extremist groups had a sort of connection, some people knew each other's activity. These groups acting on the territory of Kazakhstan did not have any centers or headquarters. They did not have any established financing sources,” he said.

The expert also added that nearly 56% of the members of extremist groups had only secondary education certificates. "For example, one of the convicts had only 4 grades of education. More than one third of the people involved in terrorist groups had only secondary education certificates and 18% had also higher education. Only 6% attended any special religious education institutions. It clearly indicates that people involved in extremist activities do have any special knowledge of it," said Karin.

The majority of the extremist groups drew attention of law-enforcement bodies because of simply criminal activity. For example, one of the groups was arrested after robbing a grocery store in one of the regional centers. They stole 8,000 tenge and several gum packs,” he said.

The common opinion that extremist groups usually target representatives of law-enforcement agencies as their victims is wrong and sometimes even danger to some extent, the political expert said. This category of people can be considered as victims of terrorist attacks more often because they are who counter them in gunfights and special operations, Karin specified.

The civilians can often be targets of attacks as a result of the special terrorist plans. Statistics proves that taxi drivers, businessmen, workers and owners of stores, healers are more often become victims of these criminal groups. These are simply people who could possibly have some money, he added