As a result of a special operation carried out by the Counter-Terrorism Department of the State Security Service of Georgia, one person was detained. A special operation is continuing to detain the remaining. This is stated in the official communication of the State Security Service of Georgia.

"According to preliminary information, these individuals are not Georgian citizens and are members of a terrorist organization," the statement quoted by Georgia-Online.

The head of the press service of the Georgian SGB Nino Giorgobiani also notes that at the initial stage the suspects were invited to surrender to Georgian law enforcement officers, which they responded by opening fire and automatic weapons and threw grenades. As a result of shooting one employee of the Special Operations Department of the Georgian SGB.

"At the moment, the process of full identification of these individuals is being carried out, in order to establish their alleged criminal links, investigative measures are being conducted both in Georgia and abroad," the statement says..

Earlier, the SGB stated that the security of the territory residing on the territory adjacent to the site of the special operation is not threatened and their security is guaranteed.

"The counterterrorism department of the State Security Service is conducting a special operation on the street of the monk Gabriel Salos. The persons whose operation is being detained under the operation opened fire on the direction of the special unit. At the moment they are in one of the residential apartments. The safety of the population living on the territory of the special operation is protected, "reads the statement of the State Security Service.

On the spot, additional police brigades were mobilized, as well as heavy equipment - the Cobra armored personnel carriers.

As local residents say, the special operation began at 04:00 and the shooting was audible throughout the night.

"There were 7-8 explosions. Then the machine gunshots. From the building where the special operation took place, people were evacuated. We have information that Chechens lived in the building, "the local resident said..

According to the information distributed, three men lived in the apartment - a father with two sons. It is reported that they are not citizens of Georgia.

The State Security Service says that the damage inflicted on local residents during a special operation in Bari Gabriel Salos Street will be fully reimbursed.

As the head of the press service of the State Security Service Nino Giorgobiani stated at the press conference, in order to protect the security of the population, evacuation of the residents of the entrance of the building and the territory where the special operation.

"The State Security Service, the population will provide the public with updated information about the progress of the special operation. Calls on the population to abstain from traveling in this territory as much as possible and obey the instructions of law enforcement agencies, "said Giorgobiani.