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RARE EXPLOSION IN ARMENIAN CAPITAL APPEARS TO BE ISOLATED CASE
Lilit Gevorgyan
Global Insight
March 21, 2012
On 20 March at 1:15am, a grenade explosion wounded three people, all
Iranian citizens, after bomb exploded in the Alen Elen disco club in
central Abovyan Street in the Armenian capital Yerevan. The Armenian
Police Press Service issued a statement saying that at 1.05 am they
received a call from the club saying that an individual was threatening
to detonate a grenade. Shortly after they learned that the suspect had
thrown the grenade into the second floor of the club. Six others, most
of whom were also Iranian nationals, had suffered smoke poisoning. The
medical staff treating the injured said that their injuries were not
life-threatening. The Armenian police have launched an investigation
into the explosion, and the Armenian media also reported that the
police had detained a suspect. The reports suggested that during the
suspect's arrest, a knife with a secret valve was also found. The
Armenian authorities have not given any indication about the motives
behind the attack but media reports suggest that the explosion followed
an argument between the suspect and the management of the club.
Significance:While the investigation is ongoing it appears that the
attack had no political motivation and was an isolated case--the
high number of Iranian citizens amongst the casualties is due to the
high tourist season. Every year over 30,000 Iranians cross border to
Armenia to celebrate the holiday of Nowruz, mostly young Iranians who
enjoy the more relaxed environment in Armenia. There are a number of
Iranian businesses, including coffee houses in Armenia where Iranian
nationals prefer to gather, and the club involved is one of them. The
attack, although rare, raises questions about gun control in Armenia.
It comes ahead of parliamentary elections in May and is likely to
trigger a strong reaction from the public and the political opposition
over this sensitive issue.
From: Baghdasarian
Lilit Gevorgyan
Global Insight
March 21, 2012
On 20 March at 1:15am, a grenade explosion wounded three people, all
Iranian citizens, after bomb exploded in the Alen Elen disco club in
central Abovyan Street in the Armenian capital Yerevan. The Armenian
Police Press Service issued a statement saying that at 1.05 am they
received a call from the club saying that an individual was threatening
to detonate a grenade. Shortly after they learned that the suspect had
thrown the grenade into the second floor of the club. Six others, most
of whom were also Iranian nationals, had suffered smoke poisoning. The
medical staff treating the injured said that their injuries were not
life-threatening. The Armenian police have launched an investigation
into the explosion, and the Armenian media also reported that the
police had detained a suspect. The reports suggested that during the
suspect's arrest, a knife with a secret valve was also found. The
Armenian authorities have not given any indication about the motives
behind the attack but media reports suggest that the explosion followed
an argument between the suspect and the management of the club.
Significance:While the investigation is ongoing it appears that the
attack had no political motivation and was an isolated case--the
high number of Iranian citizens amongst the casualties is due to the
high tourist season. Every year over 30,000 Iranians cross border to
Armenia to celebrate the holiday of Nowruz, mostly young Iranians who
enjoy the more relaxed environment in Armenia. There are a number of
Iranian businesses, including coffee houses in Armenia where Iranian
nationals prefer to gather, and the club involved is one of them. The
attack, although rare, raises questions about gun control in Armenia.
It comes ahead of parliamentary elections in May and is likely to
trigger a strong reaction from the public and the political opposition
over this sensitive issue.
From: Baghdasarian