Interior ministry says Zugdidi bank attacker identified, search operation continues
The Ministry of Internal Affairs will gradually provide additional information to public regarding the investigation. Photo: police.ge
Tweet 
Share
The Georgian Interior Ministry has announced today that the armed attacker on the Bank of Georgia branch in the western town of Zugdidi has been identified.
However, the ministry calls on all media outlets and the public not to reveal the identity or a photograph of the offender, in case they somehow happen to receive information, in order not to interfere in the police investigation.
Additional information regarding the ongoing investigation of armed robbery of “Bank of Georgia” which took place in #Zugdidi:
— MIA of Georgia (@MIAofGeorgia) October 25, 2020
Aa result of complex investigative-operative and search activities, MIA has identified the assailant
Full statement: https://t.co/sadGzAnjby
Police received a call about an armed attacker at 14:21 on October 21. Initially the attacker took 43 hostages, including consumers and the bank personnel.
The Interior Ministry began ‘long and complicated negotiations’ with the attacker which ended in the release of most of the hostages.
Late at night the attacker left the building with the head of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti police chief Avtandil Galdava and three hostages. However, he eventfully released the remaining hostages and escaped with half a million USD.
The search operation to detain the attacker has been underway since then.