Hostage crisis in armed anti-war protest

In the Bornova district of central Izmir, an armed man, Tansel Bilici, took a shop assistant hostage, protesting against the war in Iraq. Turkish police were on red alert during the two-hour hostage crisis on Wednesday night.

When Tansel Bilici put his gun to the head of the worker named Seckin Cakmak, security officers evacuated the shop and called for police.

According to police sources, Tansel Bilici has been unemployed for months and carried out this kind of attack because of a temporary mental instability.

After two hours of talks with the police, Tansel Bilici was convinced to surrender, asking for nothing in return.

Bilici came out of the shop along with policemen and shouted, "I did everything for Iraq! Shahids (martyrs) do not die!" while being taken to Bornova police station.