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Police have seized 10 kilograms of explosives within week, interior minister says

The Belarusian police have seized 174 illegally possessed firearms, more than 90,000 pieces of ammunition, 10 kilograms and more than 150 explosive devices since Operation Arsenal began in the country, Interior Minister Anatol Kulyashow told reporters in Minsk on Monday.

The operation was launched by order of Alyaksandr Lukashenka in response to a deadly bomb attack in the Minsk subway system on April 11.

According to General Kulyashow, residents have voluntarily surrendered 314 unregistered firearms, 212 registered firearms, and more than 100,000 pieces of ammunition.

Dozens of criminal cases have been launched over the illegal possession of arms, ammunition and explosives, Mr. Kulyashow said.

He called on people to surrender arms, noting that Article 195 of the Criminal Code penalizes the illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives by up to 12 years in prison, and that those who surrender arms voluntarily are exempted from punishment. //BelaPAN