Armenian National Security Service warns gunmen holding Yerevan police station: time is running out
YEREVAN. July 27 (Interfax) - The National Security Service has warned that the situation currently observed in the territory of the police station seized by gunmen is prompting law enforcement forces to begin crackdown and suppress terrorist actions.
"The Armenian National Security Service strongly urges members of the group to immediately eliminate all obstacles for quality medical treatment to be delivered to the injured, swiftly release all hostages, lay down arms and surrender to the authorities," the Service said in a statement on Wednesday.
"There is still an opportunity" for this to be done, "but time is running out", it said.
Members of the armed group were repeatedly warned that if they fail to meet the requirements of law enforcement officers, they would be subjected to some radical measures, including an armed crackdown, according to the NSS. "However, some members of the group neglected the demand to refrain from criminal actions, by being armed while going outside of the regiment's territory. Members of the group used arms against law enforcement forces. Measures were undertaken to neutralize four members of the group, of whom two were injured and the other two gave up," it said.
The NSS also noted that it has some proven evidence that a few members of the armed group remain in the police regiment's territory against their will. "Besides, the persons expressed concern that if they attempted to turn in, other members of the group would settle scores with them," it said.
"We hold that the emphatically terrorist actions of the most active members of the group threaten not only the lives of the hostages but also the lives of all other members of the group and particularly, of those injured. Under the most recent circumstances, there is an expediency arising to protect the lives of these persons, which compels the law enforcement agencies to undertake all necessary and proportionate measures to suppress and prevent terrorist actions," the Armenian National Security Service said.