The FINANCIAL — Georgia’s State Security Service (SUS) says at least one suspected militant has been detained in an ongoing operation against gunmen in a residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Tbilisi.
SUS spokeswoman Nino Giorgobiani told reporters at midday on November 22 that police and security forces were continuing the counterterrorism operation in the Isani district of the Georgian capital in a bid to capture several other gunmen.
Giorgobiani said the suspects targeted by the operation were “foreign nationals” who are suspected of having ties with a “terrorist organization.” She did not say where they were from or name a specific group, according to RFE/RL’s Georgian Service.
But Georgian media reports said the gunmen were suspected of having ties with Islamic State (IS) extremists.
An RFE/RL correspondent at the scene reports that security forces had an apartment building surrounded, with at least four armored personnel carriers posted at strategic points around the building.
The operation began late on November 21 when security forces were deployed near the apartment building.
Giorgobiani said that the suspects refused an order to surrender and began shooting and throwing hand grenades at security forces.
Police and government troops called in reinforcements and continued to battle with the suspected militants, she said.
The sounds of gunfire and grenade explosions could be heard in the neighborhood through the night.
On November 22, at about 10:30 a.m. local time, a heavy explosion shattered one apartment on the third floor of the building.
Thick smoke poured from the building for several hours, suggesting that the blast ignited a fire inside.
Firefighters were unable to reach the blaze while the security operation was continuing.
In addition to the positions held by armored personnel carriers, security forces were blocking all of the exits of the building and other buildings nearby.
Authorities say residents of the surrounded apartment building were evacuated before the third-story explosion and fire.
With reporting by Rustavi-TV and Apsny.ge
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