The Investigative Committee of Armenia has launched criminal proceedings on the grounds of terrorism or banditry in the city of Masis, reports shamshyan.com.

These proceedings were launched into the incident that happened Friday night at Masis Municipality. On that day at around 9pm, Ararat Province resident Edvard Margaryan, 36, telephoned Hrach Miroyan, head of the criminal investigation department of the Ararat provincial police, and said he wanted to meet with him.

The meeting took place on the Masis-Aintap-Nubarashen motorway, and during which Margaryan fired a gun into the air and ran away.

After 40-50 minutes, he went to the workplace of Masis mayor Davit Hambardzumyan, entered, shouted and cursed at the security guard there, went up to the fourth floor, from where he fired two shots and threw a hand grenade.

The police officers who arrived at the scene started negotiations, but Margaryan did not respond to their requests, and left unanswered even the requests of his mother who had arrived at the scene.

In order to prevent possible further actions, the police special squad entered the Masis city hall at around 12:30am Saturday, and found Margaryan dead on the chair near the desk of mayor Davit Hambardzumyan's office.

Also, a gun loaded with four bullets was found. In addition, one hand grenade with its detonator and two cartridges fired from a gun were found on Mayor Hambardzumyan's desk.

For more than an hour Friday night, an emergency situation was created in Ararat Province. A man armed with an explosive had entered Masis city hall and threatened to blow it up. According to the police statement, the man committed suicide.