Two captors killed, prosecutor wounded in Istanbul hostage drama

49 minutes ago

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Turkish special forces take position on March 31, 2015 in Istanbul in front of the courthouse where a Turkish prosecutor was taken hostage by an armed group (AFP Photo/Ozan Kose)

Istanbul (AFP) - Two hostage-takers were killed and the prosecutor they were holding badly wounded Tuesday after security forces launched an operation to end a six-hour standoff in Istanbul, a top security official said.

Istanbul prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz was immediately hospitalised after being badly wounded but both men who had held him hostage were killed, Istanbul security director Selami Altinok told reporters outside the courthouse.

The authorities had earlier been negotiating with the hostage-takers but Altinok said the decision to go in was taken when gunfire was heard during phone communications with the captors.

"Our prosecutor is in hospital and seriously wounded. As a result of the operation, two terrorists were killed," he said, adding Kiraz would undergo an operation.