Twelve individuals have been taken hostage by an armed robber in the Bank of Georgia Kutaisi branch in western Georgia, the country’s Interior Ministry said. 

The robber broke into the bank building  on Shota Rustaveli Avenue in Kutaisi earlier on Tuesday. 

“As soon as the report on the attack was received, the police officers cordoned off the area around the scene immediately. Currently law enforcement officers mobilized on the spot are taking all necessary and urgent measures, while investigative and operative activities are underway”, said the ministry.