A former boxing champion has been hailed as a hero after he disarmed a knife-wielding attacker at a Kazakhstan airport, saving a young female security officer who had been taken hostage.
The dramatic incident unfolded March 7 at Almaty Airport's domestic terminal security checkpoint when a 67-year-old man, posing as a passenger, was asked to show his ID, the Daily Mail reported.
Instead, he pulled out a knife, grabbed a 21-year-old female security officer by the hair, and threatened to detonate a bomb using his phone.
Panic ensued as authorities attempted to de-escalate the situation. Amid the chaos, 52-year-old Musa Abdraim, a father of five and former boxing champion, stepped forward and offered himself as a replacement hostage.
The attacker shockingly agreed, releasing the terrified woman. Seizing the opportunity, Abdraim lunged at the man, grabbing the knife with his bare hands before security personnel and police officers subdued the assailant.
The entire ordeal lasted seven minutes.
Kazakh authorities confirmed that the suspect had been detained and was facing charges that could lead to up to 12 years in prison. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev personally acknowledged Abdraim's bravery and announced that he would be awarded a state medal for his heroic actions.
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