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Turkish prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz held hostage by armed militants over protest death Turkish prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz held hostage by armed militants over protest death
(35 minutes later)
Suspected communist militants have taken a chief prosecutor hostage in Istanbul as revenge for the death of a teenage boy hit by a tear gas cannister during anti-government protests.Suspected communist militants have taken a chief prosecutor hostage in Istanbul as revenge for the death of a teenage boy hit by a tear gas cannister during anti-government protests.
Men believed to be members of the banned Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) posted pictures on social media of a gun being held to Mehmet Selim Kiraz’s head, threatening to shoot him unless authorities meet their demands.Men believed to be members of the banned Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) posted pictures on social media of a gun being held to Mehmet Selim Kiraz’s head, threatening to shoot him unless authorities meet their demands.
The group’s flag could be seen in the background as Mr Kiraz was seen gagged and with his hands tied in front of him. The group’s flag could be seen in the background as Mr Kiraz was held gagged and with his hands tied in front of him. Turkish special forces in front of the courthouse where a Turkish was taken hostage
The Dogan news agency said shots were heard at the court house when Mr Kiraz was seized and special forces had entered the building after it was evacuated. Anti-government protesters mourn the death of Berkin Elvan, which the prosecutor was investigating According to a statement released on halkinsesi.tv, the militants gave authorities until 3.36 pm local time (1.36pm BST) to meet their demands - three hours after they stormed the court building.
He is investigating the death of 15-year-old Berkin Elvan, who was hit by a police gas canister fired during nationwide anti-government protests in 2013.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets following his injury and subsequent death after 269 days in a coma.
His death – the eighth related to protests in Gezi Park - re-ignited anger at the government, becoming a further symbol of police and government impunity.
According to a statement released on halkinsesi.tv, the militants gave authorities until 3.36 pm local time (1.36pm BST) to meet their demands.
That deadline has now passed and there has not yet been any word from Turkish authorities about Mr Kiraz's wellbeing.That deadline has now passed and there has not yet been any word from Turkish authorities about Mr Kiraz's wellbeing.
Turkish television stations cut live broadcasts earlier today, with some citing a reporting ban. Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Vedat Yiğit said negotiations between militants and police "continue via a mediator that they picked".
Speaking to Hürriyet, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Vedat Yiğit said negotiations between militants and police "continue via a mediator that they picked". The DHKP-C bombed a police station in revenge for Berkin's death in January
"Our negotiators and Umit Kocasakal, the head of the Istanbul Bar Association, are talking to the militants," Istanbul Police Chief Selami Altunok said."Our negotiators and Umit Kocasakal, the head of the Istanbul Bar Association, are talking to the militants," Istanbul Police Chief Selami Altunok said.
"We are trying to resolve the issue without anyone being hurt." "We are trying to resolve the issue without anyone being hurt." Turkish police stand guard as courthouse employees leave the Justice Palace in Istanbul
The group's conditions for the prosecutor's release include a television confession by the police officers suspected of killing Elvan, the prosecution of the officers responsible in a “people’s court” and the acquittal of all people being tried for participation in solidarity rallies after his death, the Hurriyet Daily News reported. Witnesses said shots were heard at the court house when Mr Kiraz was seized and special forces have since entered the building, which was evacuated and cordoned off.
“We were on the sixth floor. A black-haired man wearing a suit entered the prosecutor's room and fired a gun three times,” Mehmet Hasan Kaplan, who works in the building, told Reuters, adding that the attackers also claimed to have explosives.
Live coverage of the hostage crisis stopped on Turkish television on Tuesday afternoon when a ban was imposed by the government. It was reportedly one of more than 150 such gagging orders issued in the last four years.
Mr Kiraz is investigating the death of 15-year-old Berkin Elvan, who was hit by a police gas canister fired during nationwide anti-government protests in 2013.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets following his injury and subsequent death after 269 days in a coma.
Berkin's death – the eighth related to protests in Gezi Park - re-ignited anger at the government, becoming a further symbol of police and government impunity.
Militants' conditions for the prosecutor's release include a television confession by the police officers suspected of killing Elvan, the prosecution of the officers responsible in a “people’s court” and the acquittal of all people being tried for participation in solidarity rallies after his death, the Hurriyet Daily News reported.
Anti-government protesters mourn the death of Berkin Elvan, which the prosecutor was investigating
Hüseyin Aygün, a Turkish lawyer and member of parliament with the Republican People's Party, wrote on Twitter that people want “justice, not revenge” for Berkin’s death.Hüseyin Aygün, a Turkish lawyer and member of parliament with the Republican People's Party, wrote on Twitter that people want “justice, not revenge” for Berkin’s death.
He said he spoke on the phone to the boy’s father, Sami, after the crisis broke out and quoted him as saying: "My son is dead, but someone else should not die. The prosecutor must be released. Blood cannot be washed with blood." He spoke to the boy’s father, Sami, after the crisis broke out and quoted him as saying: "My son is dead, but someone else should not die. The prosecutor must be released. Blood cannot be washed with blood."
“I don't want anyone to even get a nosebleed. Until today, I've only demanded justice, and I only want a fair trial,” Mr Elvan wrote later on Twitter.“I don't want anyone to even get a nosebleed. Until today, I've only demanded justice, and I only want a fair trial,” Mr Elvan wrote later on Twitter.
Ben Sami Elvan! Kimsenin burnunun dahi kanamasını istemiyorum. Sadece adalet istedim bugüne kadar ve sadece adil bir yargılama istiyorum.Ben Sami Elvan! Kimsenin burnunun dahi kanamasını istemiyorum. Sadece adalet istedim bugüne kadar ve sadece adil bir yargılama istiyorum.
The DHKP-C has been listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the European Union and US after a string of assassinations and suicide bombings since its foundation in the 1970s.The DHKP-C has been listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the European Union and US after a string of assassinations and suicide bombings since its foundation in the 1970s.
It was unclear how militants entered the Çağlayan Justice Palace, thought to be the largest courthouse in Europe, but Istanbul was one of dozens of Turkish cities and provinces hit by a massive power cut today believed to be the country’s worst blackout in years. Shop workers sit in candle light at their shop after a major power cut in Istanbul, Turkey 31 March 2015.It was unclear how militants entered the Çağlayan Justice Palace, thought to be the largest courthouse in Europe, but Istanbul was one of dozens of Turkish cities and provinces hit by a massive power cut today believed to be the country’s worst blackout in years. Shop workers sit in candle light at their shop after a major power cut in Istanbul, Turkey 31 March 2015.
It brought transportation to a standstill, disrupting services and potentially interfering with security systems.
In January, the DHKP-C claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a police station in Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet district that killed one officer and wounded another, claiming it was to “settle scores” over Berkin's death.In January, the DHKP-C claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a police station in Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet district that killed one officer and wounded another, claiming it was to “settle scores” over Berkin's death.
Marxist-Leninist militants said on their website the ruling AK Party was responsible for the explosion and a grenade attack they launched on police at a historic palace near the Prime Minister’s office in Istanbul the week before.Marxist-Leninist militants said on their website the ruling AK Party was responsible for the explosion and a grenade attack they launched on police at a historic palace near the Prime Minister’s office in Istanbul the week before.
Additional reporting by AP The DHKP-C was also behind the bombing of the US embassy in Ankara in 2013.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has met with ministers at the AK Party headquarters to discuss the latest crisis, his office said.
Additional reporting by agencies