National Security Service of Armenia has made a new statement related to the ongoing situation after the seizure of the building of Police Patrol Service Regiment building. Terror actions by more active members of Daredevils of Sasoun currently pose a threat not only to the hostages but to other members of the group as well, especially to the lives of the injured.
"In the current situation there is a necessity to protect the lives of these people and the law enforcement bodies have to take preventive adequate measures. NSS demands from the members of the armed group to immediately neutralize all the obstacles for providing medical care to the injured, release all the hostages, put down arms and surrender to the authorities. The possibility still exists but the time is running out", the statement of the National Security Service reads.
The statement further stresses that on July 26 the NSS repeatedly warned the armed group orally and in written form to end criminal activity particularly not to open fire and not to come out from the territory of the building with arms. "At the same time the group has been warned that in case these demands are not observed fire weapons will be used against them as the last extreme measure. Despite these warnings some members of the group ignored the demands and came out of the building with their arms having no intention to surrender. As a result of this measures were taken to neutralize them. In response to these measures some members of the group opened intensive fire at the law enforcers injuring one policeman. As a result of taken adequate measures 4 members of the group were neutralized two of them were injured, two were forced to surrender". The NSS also informs that within the case initiated on the fact of seizure of the building of Police Patrol Service Regiment reliable data has been obtained (including audio records), according to which several members of the group have been kept on the territory of the building beyond their will. "These members of the group are sure that in case they try to surrender they will be punished by other representatives of the Daredevils of Sasoun. Moreover, on the morning of July 27 the members of the group abusing the state's readiness to provide medical care to the injured on the territory of the building have taken 4 medical workers as hostages", the statement reads.