BREAKING: Seattle mayor announces that police are returning to occupied zone

Durkan spoke to press tonight and said "Chief Best has made it clear to me that for the short term SPD will need the East Precinct to appropriately respond to more than 100,000 911 calls. SPD will be returning to the East Precinct. They will do it peacefully and in the near future."

Over the weekend, there were two separate shootings within the zone.

The area has been occupied for nearly two weeks, since June 10 when city councilwoman Kshama Sawant accompanied protestors in taking over City Hall.

Since then, the zone was named the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, then renamed Capitol Hill Occupied Protest. The protestors also raised a list of demands, that included defunding the police. This demand was met affirmatively by Durkan's administration.

It is not yet clear exactly when the zone will be retaken by police, but there's no doubt that the residents and businesses located there will be glad to no longer be held hostage by a group of separatists.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.