YEREVAN. - Armenian police have instituted a special investigation group to reveal the well planed and particularly insolent criminal attacks registered in Yerevan throughout 2011.

According to police press service, on September 22 the Main Criminal Investigation Department received information that the gang is planning another attack. On September on Myasnikyan Avenue of Armenian capital the law enforcement bodies stopped Mercedes-Benz vehicle with plate numbers of 60 ՕՕ 086. The driver, however, proved disobedient, made an attempt to escape but failed and crushed into a pole. The driver and passengers tried to run, opening fire on the chasing policemen.

Artur Manukyan, David Galstayan, Samvel Davtyan and Aram Hayrapetyan, all previously convicted, were caught and detained soon after. One of the gang members, Gurgern Hayrapetyan made a futile attempt to escape by climbing over the neighboring cliff but slipped and crashed to death.

Later same day the police searched the gang’s nest on Amaranotsayin street. The search revealed large amount of weapons and drugs.

On September 24 police officers detained Artush Hakobyan and Ruben Karaoghlyan. The investigation discovered that months ago Artush Hakobyan and Ruben Karaoghlyan recruited David Galstyan, Samvel Davtyan, Arthur Manukyan and Kyaram Amoyan into their gang with the purpose of designing and implementing bandit attacks.

A number of apartments and houses have been searched in the framework of the operations.
Artush Hakobyan Artur Manukyan, David Galstyan are detained.

Aram Hayrapetyan, Joseph Hovnanian, Ruben Karaoghlanyan and Ashot Martirosyan were arrested.

Intelligence and investigative activities are underway to identify the whole circle of the gang’s criminal activities.