July 17, 2016
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Armed supporters of a jailed opposition leader attacked a police station in Armenia's capital on Sunday, killing one officer, wounding two and taking several others hostage, the National Security Service said.
The attackers demanded the release of Jirair Sefilian, who was arrested last month, and called for the ouster of the government. Police cordoned off the area around the station in Yerevan's Erebuni district. The National Security Service said negotiations were being conducted with the attackers for the release of the hostages. Few details of the attack were released.
A high-ranking police official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information, said the attackers numbered about 20 and were holding at least eight officers hostage.
Sefilian, a leader of the opposition group Founding Parliament, was arrested June 20 and charged with illegal acquisition and possession of weapons. Investigators said he and his supporters were planning to seize government buildings and the television transmission tower.
Varuzhan Avetisian, a spokesman for the group, said they were demanding the release of all "political prisoners" and calling on Armenians to take to the streets to force the government to step down.
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Armed supporters of a jailed opposition leader attacked a police station in Armenia's capital on Sunday, killing one officer, wounding two and taking several others hostage, the National Security Service said.
The attackers demanded the release of Jirair Sefilian, who was arrested last month, and called for the ouster of the government. Police cordoned off the area around the station in Yerevan's Erebuni district. The National Security Service said negotiations were being conducted with the attackers for the release of the hostages. Few details of the attack were released.
A high-ranking police official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information, said the attackers numbered about 20 and were holding at least eight officers hostage.
Sefilian, a leader of the opposition group Founding Parliament, was arrested June 20 and charged with illegal acquisition and possession of weapons. Investigators said he and his supporters were planning to seize government buildings and the television transmission tower.
Varuzhan Avetisian, a spokesman for the group, said they were demanding the release of all "political prisoners" and calling on Armenians to take to the streets to force the government to step down.
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