Turkish authorities say police have rescued seven hostages who had been held at gunpoint for several hours at a factory owned by US Procter & Gamble Co. in northwestern Turkey.
ISTANBUL — Police have rescued seven hostages who had been held at gunpoint for several hours at a factory owned by the American company Procter & Gamble in northwestern Turkey, local officials said early Friday.
Gunmen sparked clashes at a P&G facility in Gebze, Kocaeli province, in protest against the Israeli-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, Governor Sedar Yavuz was quoted as saying by the state-run Anadolu news agency.
Police launched a rescue operation after 10 hours of negotiations broke down. “Our respected police officers and heroic security forces made the necessary intervention as soon as they were sure the hostages were out of harm's way,” Yauz said.
Previous reports had suggested that two suspects held the P&G employee captive, but Yavuz said the ex-employee acted alone.
The man was reportedly demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and the opening of aid routes to the Palestinian enclave.
“The hostages were safely rescued, the perpetrators were taken into custody, and an extensive investigation has been launched into this incident,” Yauz's office said in a statement.
A spokeswoman for Cincinnati-based P&G said the situation at the Gebze plant has been resolved and all employees are safe.
“Our greatest relief is the fact that no one was harmed. We are grateful to the authorities and first responders who managed the situation with courage and professionalism,” the spokesperson said. Ta.
The suspect was also unharmed.
Yauz said the man was in possession of two guns and unspecified “devices.” Turkish media published images of the suspect inside the factory wearing what appeared to be a rudimentary explosive belt and carrying a handgun.
According to the private news agency DHA, a man broke into the main building of the facility around 3pm local time and took seven staff members hostage.
Police blocked roads around the factory and attempted to negotiate with the hostage takers.
According to the company's website, P&G Turkey employs 700 people across three locations in Istanbul and Kocaeli. The company produces cleaning and hygiene brands such as Ariel detergent and Oral B toothpaste.
“Thank God we were reunited,” said Fatma Dursun, who told Anadolu that her niece was also among the hostages. “God bless our people, our police and our security forces.”
Public sentiment against Israel and its main ally the United States has been rising in Turkey since the conflict began, with regular protests in support of the Palestinians taking place in major cities and calls for an immediate ceasefire.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been particularly outspoken, referring to Israel's “war crimes” and comparing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
In November, the US embassy in Ankara issued a warning about demonstrations “critical of US foreign policy” and calls to boycott US companies. The advisory came in the wake of protests over the Gaza conflict and attacks on stores such as McDonald's and Starbucks.
Photos of the suspect published in Turkish media show him with a black-and-white Arabic scarf covering his face. He said, “The gates are open. It's either Musala or death in Gaza.'' Musala is a place of public prayer for Muslims, usually used for funerals.
___
Associated Press writer Bruce Sipkowski in Trenton, New Jersey, contributed to this report.
