DAMASCUS, (SANA) – In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Interior said that armed terrorist groups attacked at dawn official and security facilities and police stations in the city of Hama in an attempt to murder and kidnap policemen and vandalize and burn their contents, opening fire randomly around town to terrorize citizens and prevent them to going to work.

The statement said that law-enforcement forces engaged these groups to protect innocent civilians and preserve public and private properties and facilities, deploying in several areas in the city.

During these confrontations, 8 policemen were martyred and a number of police stations in Hama and its countryside were burned along with a number of police motorbikes. A number of gunmen were also killed.

The statement urged citizens to cooperate with security and police forces and provide information about the gunmen, warning against dealing with the armed terrorist groups and harboring them.

The statement stressed that the authorities will work hard to track down the terrorist wherever they are and arrest them and bring them to justice, and that they will continue work to restore security and stability in Hama.

H. Sabbagh