Turkish news agency Demirören reported that an armed man took two workers hostage at a Procter & Gamble factory in northwest Turkey on Thursday, seemingly in protest against Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip. The agency stated that the unidentified man entered the factory in the Gebze industrial area of Kocaeli province around 3 PM local time (1200 GMT), adding that police rushed to the scene and are trying to persuade the man to surrender.
It is believed that seven people were taken hostage, including six men and one woman, and that a second individual is also involved in the hostage situation, although their identity has not been determined. Reports indicate that all of the company's products are supportive of Israel. Turkish media reported that the person holding the hostages is armed with at least one gun.
The hostage-taking reportedly stems from protests against Israeli assaults on Gaza. The governor of Kocaeli has arrived at the scene to monitor developments as Turkish security forces closed major streets in the area and established a security perimeter with police and security personnel.
A photo released by local media showed a masked man inside the factory wearing a Palestinian scarf and appearing to hold what looked like an explosive device. Another image showed the man holding a weapon in one hand and making a peace sign with the other, in front of a wall painted with both the Turkish and Palestinian flags and an inscription supporting Gaza.
