In Armenia: Attempted Coup, Gunmen reportedly Storm Police Building

Gunmen have stormed the police headquarters in Armenia provoking fears of an attempted coup in the country.

The country borders Turkey where an attempted coup took place on Friday night.

One person has been killed and a number of people wounded after the building in Yerevan were stormed by gunmen.

It is also being reported that police chief Valery Osipyan is being held, hostage.

An official statement has now been released from Armenia’s National Security Service.

“Today in the morning, a group of armed attackers stormed an Armenian police patrol regiment headquarters, and they are holding people hostage there at gunpoint.

“At the moment, we’re carrying out negotiations with the armed group to ensure their peaceful surrender to the authorities.”

The statement says supporters of the attackers are spreading rumours of“an armed rebellion” which police say is not true.

Snipers have been seen gathering near the building.

The gunmen are demanding the release of Armenian opposition figure Jirair Sefilyan.

His supporters said today they wanted an “armed rebellion” to “change the state of things in Armenia”

A statement read: 

“We have already seized one of the main police hubs in Yerevan and are in control of the Erebuni.”

Jirair Sefilyan was arrested towards the end of June after a plot to seize buildings and telecommunication sites were allegedly uncovered.

He announced last October a “change of power” in the country through his movement “New Armenia”.

He said this could only be achieved through an “armed rebellion of the people”.