1 dead, hostages taken in attack on Armenian police station

YEREVAN, Armenia — Armenia’s security forces say a group of armed men has attacked a police station in the capital, killing one officer, wounding two and taking several others hostage.

Sunday’s attack was carried out by members of an opposition group demanding the release of their jailed leader, Jirair Sefilian, who was arrested last month on charges of planning to overthrow the government.

Police have 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.