A group of workers are being taken hostage at a US-owned factory near Istanbul, Turkey.
According to local reports, seven people were detained by a man believed to be armed with a gun and an explosive device taped to his chest.
Police were on the scene at a Procter & Gamble (P&G) factory on the outskirts of the capital and reportedly negotiating with the perpetrators.
He first entered the factory in Kocaeli's Gebze district around 3pm local time (noon UK time), where police cordoned off the area.
Images circulating on social media show the suspect wearing a suicide bomb vest and holding a handgun, claiming he was taking hostages to protest Israel's war in Gaza.
A photo released by Turkish news agencies showed a man standing in front of a wall with a spray-painted message.
Local media reported that a Palestinian flag was displayed at the entrance to the building, along with a sign that read: “The door to Gaza is open.”
Emergency services, including medical staff and riot police, were photographed outside the factory.
However, Turkish authorities have not yet issued an official statement.
Ismet Gini, whose wife works at the site, told the DHA news agency that he had sent a message saying he had been taken hostage.
However, he said he did not know “if it was her or someone else.”
Horrified relatives of the hostages have criticized the lack of information provided by Turkish police and authorities.
“We have been waiting for six hours with no announcement from the authorities,” the father of one of the hostages told AFP.
P&G said the safety and security of its employees is its “top priority.”
“We have evacuated our manufacturing facility in Gebze, Turkey and are cooperating with local authorities and police,” a spokesperson said.
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