- Title: Relatives worry about the fate of hostages inside P&G factory in Turkey
- Date: 1st February 2024
- Summary: GEBZE, TURKEY (FEBRUARY 1, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE TAKING SECURITY AMBULANCE POLICE TAKING SECURITY VARIOUS OF FAMILIES WAITING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) RELATIVE OF HOSTAGE, CEM AKAR SAYING: "Of course (we are afraid) Who can't be ? He wrapped himself with explosives, carrying a gun and fired into air three times when entering." VARIOUS OF RELATIVES WAITING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) RELATIVE OF HOSTAGE, SEVGIN AKBULUT SAYING: "My brother is inside. We had a little exchange on WhatsApp. He told me he is fine and we are not supposed to be worried. That is all I know. I do not have more information" RELATIVES WAITING
- Embargoed: 15th February 2024 19:04
- Keywords: Palestine Turkey hostage
- Location: GEBZE, TURKEY
- City: GEBZE, TURKEY
- Country: Turkey
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Crime,Europe,Middle East
- Reuters ID: LVA001709901022024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Relatives waited outside a Procter & Gamble factory in northwestern Turkey on Thursday (February 1) as police secured the area after an armed man took staff hostage in an apparent protest against Israel's military campaign in Gaza, the Demiroren News Agency reported.
The unidentified man entered the factory in Gebze industrial zone in Kocaeli province around 3 p.m. (1200 GMT), Demiroren said, adding that police rushed to the scene and were trying to persuade him to give himself up.
Seven people were believed to have been taken hostage - six men and one woman - Demiroren said, adding that there was a second unidentified hostage-taker. The Kocaeli governor arrived at the scene and was briefed by police, it added.
Turkish authorities have not issued any statement on the incident. A photo released by local media showed a man inside the factory whose face was covered with a Palestinian scarf and who was wearing what looked possibly like an explosive device.
Another photo from the scene showed the man holding a gun in one hand and making a 'V' sign with his other hand in front of a wall on which Turkish and Palestinian flags were painted with a script that reads: "Gates will open. Either coffin rest or death for Gaza."
(Production: Mehmet Emin Caliskan, Omer Berberoglu) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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