“On July 26 the National Security Service, both in writing and verbally, numerously warned the armed group that seized the police station to stop the continuous criminal activities immediately, in particular, including shootings and getting out of the territory of the police station in arms”, – reads a written press statement released by the National Security Service of Armenia on July 27.
The statement, which included three audio recordings of phone conversations of certain members of the armed group with unidentified persons from outside the station, also claimed the group had been warned that disregarding the demands of the Security Service might lead to exhausting other available measures except for using force by the law enforcement agencies.
According to the NSS press statement, the members of armed group bluntly disregarded the demands, exited the territory of seized police station in arms and started shooting in the direction of law enforcement officers, wounding one of them and leading to exchange of fire that resulted in “neutralising” four intruders, and two of them surrendered.
The NSS also informs that in the framework of criminal investigation, launched since July 17, “certain audio recordings have been obtained in due course which suggest that some members of the armed group have been kept in the territory of police station against their will”.
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“These people have [in the recordings – Panorama.am] voiced concerns that their attempt of surrender might lead to retaliation from other members of the group”, – the NSS statement reads.
“Moreover, some members of the group, abusing the willingness of the government to provide for medical care to those wounded, took hostage four medical workers in the morning of July 27”, – the NSS statement further reads.
The NSS further claims the “more active members of the armed group” through their obvious “terrorist acts” at the moment are threatening not only the lives of the hostages, but also other members of the group, in particular, those wounded.
“In this new situation there is a deliberate need to protect lives of those persons, which will make the law enforcement agencies undertake necessary and adequate measures to abort terrorist activity”, – the NSS declares in the statement, “decidedly” demanding the members of the armed group to “end immediately all obstacles to providing medical care to those wounded; free all hostages, lay down arms and surrender to the authorities”.
“There is still the opportunity, but time is running out”, – the official statement concludes.
