Gunmen Have until 17:00 to Lay down Weapons and Surrender without Resistance: NSS

On July 29, in the period between 21:00 and 23:00, the gunmen have periodically opened fire from various types of weapons from the police precinct, in particular from the windows of the 3- storey building, at on-duty police officers in Sari Tagh area, at buildings of the area, as well as at law enforcement officers who were monitoring the blocked part of Khorenatsi Street, and have thrown stun grenades at the barrier in Khorenatsi Street.

In addition, the gunmen have set off a grenade in the precinct’s area, followed by an attempt to torch the bus which was parked near the checkpoint which is under their control by throwing burning objects underneath it.

Law enforcement agencies responded and suppressed the gunfire, and all aggressive actions of the gunmen were thwarted. According to preliminary data, both on-duty police officers in Sari Tagh and several gunmen received gunshot wounds in the exchange of gunfire.

In this situation, the National Security Service announces that the escalation of the situation by continuous terrorist actions of the gunmen, gunfire at law enforcement officers, as well as at people located outside the blocked area, including civilians, can no longer in any way be tolerated.

We inform that after the July 29 evening events, all reasonable opportunities of a peaceful resolution with the terrorists have expired. In the current conditions, the enforcement of justifiable force under legislation of Armenia is exclusively necessary for the protection of citizens, protection of their lives and safety from dangerous attacks, for pushing back the armed assault endangering the lives and safety of law enforcement officers, thwarting the attempts of taking control of their weapons, freeing hostages and captured state structures, as well as suppressing the resistance of the gunmen.

Therefore, the gunmen have time until 17:00 today to lay down their weapons and surrender to authorities without resistance. Otherwise the Special Forces of law enforcement agencies are authorized to engage without warning and neutralize any gunmen inside or outside the police precinct area.

We also war that any attempt of unauthorized entry to the blocked area will continue being viewed as complicity of terrorism, every attempted person, regardless of status, will be subject of criminal responsibility, and attempt to breach the police line will be thwarted by all lawful means.

Attached are presented the footage and recording confirming the above-mentioned facts.

30 July, 2016