An armed assailant took seven individuals hostage at the Procter and Gamble (P&G) factory in Kocaeli, Turkey on Thursday, reportedly to protest Israel’s invasion of Gaza. The situation ended safely with the hostages released and the attacker, a former employee of the establishment, apprehended during a security operation.
The assailant entered the factory displaying a weapon to security and claiming to be carrying a bomb. After taking employees hostage, they began writing messages on the factory walls with spray paint and drew the flags of Turkey and Palestine, stating “Doors will open. For Gaza. Either Musalla or Death”.
Kocaeli Governor Seddar Yavuz announced the resolution of the hostage crisis, confirming that “no harm came to any of the hostages.” He detailed the capture of the assailant: “We were positioned as he came out to meet his needs. The security forces did what was necessary.” The governor also noted the assailant was armed with two weapons but did not have the opportunity to fire, thanks to the swift action of the security forces. “It is true he was a former employee,” Yavuz added, confirming that neither the attacker nor the hostages were injured.
The hostages, comprising six men and one woman, included three accountants, a project manager and three factory staff. Initial reports suggested two individuals carried out the armed incursion, but the governor clarified that the operation was the work of a single person.
