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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Gunmen kidnap Turkish Airlines pilots in Lebanon | Gunmen kidnap Turkish Airlines pilots in Lebanon |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two pilots working for Turkish Airlines have been abducted in Lebanon, near Beirut's international airport. | Two pilots working for Turkish Airlines have been abducted in Lebanon, near Beirut's international airport. |
| The men were snatched from a bus which was carrying several other crew members and passengers between a hotel and the airport terminal. | The men were snatched from a bus which was carrying several other crew members and passengers between a hotel and the airport terminal. |
| No-one has claimed responsibility for the incident, but it is thought to be related to the conflict in Syria. | |
| Turkey backs Syria's Sunni rebels while much of Lebanon's Shia community supports the Assad regime. | |
| Nine Lebanese Shias were abducted in Syria last year, and their families have urged Turkey to help secure their release. | |
| 'Comprehensive investigation' | 'Comprehensive investigation' |
| Lebanon's Interior Minister, Marwan Charbel, told the AFP news agency that the abduction happened at 03:00 local time (00:00 GMT), on a bus "carrying several members of a Turkish Airlines crew going from the airport to the hotel". | Lebanon's Interior Minister, Marwan Charbel, told the AFP news agency that the abduction happened at 03:00 local time (00:00 GMT), on a bus "carrying several members of a Turkish Airlines crew going from the airport to the hotel". |
| At least four gunmen were reported to be involved in the kidnapping. | At least four gunmen were reported to be involved in the kidnapping. |
| Turkish media named the kidnapped men as pilot Murat Aktumer and his co-pilot Murat Agca. | Turkish media named the kidnapped men as pilot Murat Aktumer and his co-pilot Murat Agca. |
| Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Levent Gumrukcu told Reuters that he had already been in contact with the Lebanese authorities over the incident and that they were conducting a "very comprehensive investigation". | Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Levent Gumrukcu told Reuters that he had already been in contact with the Lebanese authorities over the incident and that they were conducting a "very comprehensive investigation". |
| "As yet, we do not know who did it or for what purpose," he said. | "As yet, we do not know who did it or for what purpose," he said. |
| There is now a heavy police presence near where the kidnapping occurred, and sections of the road have been closed. | There is now a heavy police presence near where the kidnapping occurred, and sections of the road have been closed. |