Bulgaria has advised its citizens to refrain from travelling to Kazakhstan until the authorities in the central Asian country withdraw the ‘red alert’ introduced over terrorism threat, the Foreign Ministry in Sofia announced on Monday.

“In connection with the terror attacks, the country’s government has declared an emergency in Kazakhstan’s financial capital Almaty,” the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday, according to BGNES.

Therefore, the Foreign Ministry recommended to Bulgarian citizens to refrain from travelling to the Republic of Kazakhstan until the highest "red alert" over terrorism threat is withdrawn. The Bulgarian citizens already in Almaty have been advised to stay indoors.

Kazakh police can restrict freedom of movement, step up controls at key installations such as airports and train and bus stations under “red alert” introduced over threat of terror attacks. 

At least three police officers and a civilian were killed in attacks by suspected Islamist militants in Almaty earlier on Monday. A security source has told Reuters the authorities believed Islamist militants were behind the attacks.