Hostage crisis in Kocaeli resolved: 7 people rescued

In the Gebze Organized Industrial Zone (GOSB), on İhsan Dede Street, the efforts lasting approximately 10 hours to rescue workers held hostage at a factory of an international company operating in the cleaning and personal care products sector have yielded results.

7 EMPLOYEES RESCUED

The hostages were rescued in an operation. Relatives of the workers, who received the news, experienced great joy in front of the factory. Gebze District Governor Mehmet Ali Özyiğit also met with the families waiting in front of the factory.

Governor Seddar Yavuz explained to reporters that around 14:00-14:30, an individual who had previously worked at this facility attempted to enter with a weapon, and after private security could not prevent him, he took 7 employees hostage inside the factory.

Stating that the individual had demands for the cessation of the massacres Israel has been committing in Gaza and the opening of the border gate in Egypt, Yavuz noted that since the incident was learned, a sensitive negotiation process had been conducted under the coordination of the Governorship and with the instructions of Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya.

"WE NEUTRALIZED HIM WITH AN OPERATION"

Emphasizing that they carried out a meticulous effort to ensure the safety of the hostages and to prevent any harm to them, Yavuz said, "For this reason, we especially avoided a press statement style. Our primary goal was to get our brothers and sisters out of there safe and sound. Indeed, during this process, our valuable police officers and intelligence agency evaluated all possible connections and carried out work. Later, we neutralized him with a small operation without any harm coming to any of the hostages. Because the negotiations did not yield results," he said.

"The health status of each of our brothers and sisters is good," said Yavuz, adding, "We were inside during the incident ourselves. We conveyed our best wishes to all the hostages. We stand for the peace of Turkey. As you know, the law applies first to everyone who exhibits such behavior. Our security units have fulfilled their duties with sensitivity," he stated.

Yavuz stated that the operation was carried out when the suspect went outside for his needs, adding, "We were positioned accordingly. We had carried out some alternative work. We evaluated the course of action with our friends once again. Our valuable police officers and heroic security forces performed the necessary intervention as soon as we were sure that no harm would come to the hostages," he expressed.

NO ORGANIZATIONAL LINK DETECTED

Reporting that the suspect had two weapons and devices on him, Yavuz stated that they were very sensitive about these issues and considered every possibility.

When asked if the suspect opened fire, Yavuz said, "He could not attempt any shooting action during our operation. Our friends neutralized him with a very instantaneous move."

Noting that no link to any organization has been detected so far, Yavuz added that the individual, who is a former employee of the factory, was not injured during the operation.

"THANK GOD WE REUNITED, I AM VERY EXCITED"

Fatma Dursun, the aunt of hostage Esra Aydemir, stated that they received news from her niece around 15:00 and said the following:

"We rushed, but there was nothing we could do. Thank God we reunited. I am very excited, I am very sad. May God not show anyone the pain of losing a child. We reached them safe and sound. May God be pleased with our people, our police, and our security forces."

News Source: AA