Gunmen refuse to release police HQ hostages in Yerevan

PanARMENIAN.Net - One of the members of the group that stormed a police HQ in the Armenian capital said negotiations are still underway with the law enforcement authorities on Sunday, July 17.

According to Pavel Manukyan, the National Security Service has offered to take the gunmen to Jirayr Sefilyan but they have refused and demand instead that Sefilian be released.

Also, Manukyan said they have required journalists but the police have refused to fulfill their demand.

He said two of their own people were wounded during the shootout.

Manukyan said the situation is calm inside the police HQ which they stormed and seized early in the morning.

"We are wearing bulletproof vests and chatting on political and non-political topics with the hostages," he said.

In response to a question on whether they are going to release the captives, Manukyan gave a negative response.

"They should be well aware that we are ready to sacrifice ourselves," he said.

Asked if they are sorry for the officer killed in the shootout, the gunman said: "We are sorry for everything."

Commenting on a possible attack which could endanger the lives of the hostages, Manukyan said "everything is possible."