A criminal case has been opened in Pavlodar after a minor made a knowingly false report of a planned terrorist attack, the website infohub.kz reports.
According to NUR.KZ, citing the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the teenager arrived late for class and spotted a classmate's mobile phone left unattended in the gym. Using the device, he called the emergency services number and reported a purported planned terrorist attack.
Police officers quickly identified the number from which the call had been made and then established all the circumstances of the incident.
"A criminal case has been opened over the knowingly false report of an act of terrorism. The minor has been placed under the surety of his legal representatives," said Balgabay Kaparov, head of the Pavlodar city police department.
Police stress that such "jokes" do not go without consequences. A knowingly false report of an act of terrorism is a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison.
"The costs incurred by emergency services in responding to a false report are subject to reimbursement. In this case, the question of recovering the costs incurred will be decided with regard to the minor's legal representatives," the ministry added.