A senior traffic police officer in the Armenian capital Yerevan shot and killed a security guard and injured two other people - one of whom died of his wounds hours later - when he robbed a branch of the British HSBC bank on Thursday, police said.

"The robber, armed with a knife, grenade and a gun, broke into the bank and injured two employees. One of them died," the police said in a statement.

"The person, who committed the robbery, stole the money and fled. But he did not manage to run far away."

Hours later police said that one of the wounded men, a policeman, died in hospital.

"Unfortunately, doctors could not save life of wounded policeman," police spokesman Ashot Aharonyan posted on his Facebook page.

Police named the gunman as Daniel Danielyan, who heads a traffic police unit.

Reuters was unable to reach Danielyan.

Armenia has been in upheaval after street protests against the government prompted the resignation of the prime minister.



REUTERS