A manhunt is reportedly under way in western Kazakhstan for people who robbed gun shops and are engaged in a shootout with police. Eyewitnesses said the gunmen took hostages, and there are reports of casualties.

Unconfirmed reports in the local media say several young men were being sought in Aktobe, a city of some 300,000 residents in northwest Kazakhstan.

They are believed to have robbed two gun shops. The police and the armed men reportedly clashed with each other in a firefight. Some media said the gunmen took several hostages.

The authorities are reportedly evacuating shopping malls in the area and are treating the emergency as a counter-terrorism operation.

Kazakh police reported that two people were injured in the clashes, but would not immediately provide any details.

(RT)