Tense hours in Kocaeli: Man takes truck driver hostage, claiming he was 'treated unfairly'

In the Körfez district of Kocaeli, on the Istanbul-bound section of the Northern Marmara Motorway, an individual took the driver of a truck hostage inside the vehicle.

STARTED A LIVE BROADCAST AND CALLED OUT TO YERLİKAYA

Police and gendarmerie blocked the road at the Körfez Sevindikli location, halting traffic. The suspect told the teams attempting to persuade him that he wanted to speak with Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya. While efforts to persuade the individual continued, extensive security measures were taken in the surrounding area. The individual also started a live broadcast on his social media account.

"I HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO INJUSTICES"

In the broadcast he made on his social media account, the individual said, "There are some murders I know of, and a money laundering incident. No one helped me. How can a police commissioner build a house worth 7.5 trillion [lira]? What I want is to speak with Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya and explain my grievances. I have evidence. I do not want to kill anyone. My mental health is not unstable. I have a young daughter, I am divorced. I have been subjected to great injustices. I do not want to harm anyone. I will not surrender to anyone other than Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya."

SURRENDERED

The suspect told the teams attempting to persuade him that he wanted to speak with Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya. Despite persuasion efforts, the individual did not surrender. Following this, Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya held a phone conversation with Fatih B. After the conversation, the individual was persuaded to surrender. The suspect, who received assurances from Minister Yerlikaya during the live broadcast, first released the hostage and then exited the vehicle himself.

While teams neutralized the suspect, the fact that there were no injuries or loss of life was a source of relief.