Europe

Europe

Minister: Up to 5 PKK Terrorists hijack Turkish ferry

11 November 2011 20:24 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A Turkish government minister says up to five gunmen identifying themselves as members of a Kurdish rebel group have hijacked a ferry with 19 passengers on board, APA reports quoting Associated Press.

Transport Minister Binali Yildirim told NTV television one of the hijackers is in the captain’s cabin and is claiming to be carrying a bomb.

He says the hijackers have not yet made any demands. There have been conflicting reports about the number of hijackers aboard the Kartepe passenger ferry off the western port city of Izmit.

Turkey’s state-run TRT television, without citing sources, said that no raid was planned for the safety of the passengers. It said the ferry was shadowed by three coast guard boats.

Gov. Ercan Topaca of the Izmit province said there were 17 passengers and four crew on board.

NTV said the hijacker collected all of the passengers’ mobile phones.