One person has been killed and at least two wounded as an armed group seized the headquarters of the police and interior troops in Yerevan, Armenia. Several hostages have been taken.

The broadcaster that first reported the news hasn’t identified the victims of the attack, but other media outlets stated later that the local police chief, Valery Osipyan, is being held hostage.

Troops have been dispatched to the building, and the head of the country’s security forces, Vladimir Gasparyan, is on the scene as well.

The attack began when an armed group in trucks rammed through the gates of the police headquarters and took control of the building.

One policeman was killed and two were injured in the attack.

Two hostages have been freed by special forces, Armenia’s national Security Service said in a statement.

“Law enforcement is in full control of the situation and doing everything necessary to achieve a resolution.”

The attack is thought to have been launched to demand the release of Armenian opposition figure Jirair Sefilyan, who was detained on June 20 after authorities allegedly uncovered a plot to seize several buildings and telecommunication facilities in Yerevan.

Representatives of the authorities have entered into talks with the attackers, according to an official statement 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,” it reads.

“At the moment, we’re carrying out negotiations with the armed group to ensure their peaceful surrender to the authorities,” the statement continues, adding that supporters of the attackers have been spreading false information about “an armed rebellion” via social networks.

“This information being spread isn’t consistent with reality. State government bodies are working in standard operating mode, and law enforcement authorities are conducting activities to ensure public order and state security.”

People are being evacuated from apartment buildings near the scene, local media report.

Sefilyan’s supporters had declared earlier that they intended to “change the state of things in Armenia” by inciting “an armed rebellion.”

(RT)