Over 150 terror suspects detained in Russia, Central Asia over past year: Bishkek

Over 150 terrorism suspects have been detained and extradited by the special services of Russia and Central Asian countries over the past year, Vice Chairperson of the Kyrgyz State Committee on National Security Asylbek Kozhobekov said on Thursday.

"Via joint efforts made by competent bodies of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in the second half of 2017 and the first half of 2018, over 150 citizens wanted in line with fight against terrorism, were identified, detained and extradited," Kozhobekov said during the meeting of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (RATS SCO).

He added that a large number of terrorist acts had been thwarted on the territories of SCO member countries, noting that particular attention was paid to people who were going to regions with an increased level of terrorist activities and to those who were coming back to the SCO countries.

The 33rd meeting of RATS SCO takes place in Bishkek and is attended by the delegations from all permanent members of the organisation -- Russia, Kyrgyzstan, India, China, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.