TALDYKORGAN. July 12 (Interfax) - Prosecutors in Kazakhstan's Almaty region launched a criminal inquiry on Thursday into an explosion at a property in the village of Tausamal.
"The criminal case was opened under Article 24 part one (plotting and attempting to commit a crime) and Article.233(2)(b) (terrorism involving the use of weapons, explosive substances or explosive devices) of the Penal Code," regional prosecutors said.
The case could be handed over to the republic's National Security Committee, a regional police spokesperson told Interfax.
The area around the house where the blast occurred has been cordoned off, "all pictures and videos taken by firefighters have been prohibited," he said.
The house fire started in the early hours of Wednesday. A search through the rubble led to the discovery of seven charred bodies and firearms. It is believed the fire might have started as the result of an explosion of an improvised explosive device. The bodies have yet to be identified.