Unpaid debt sparks violent hostage standoff at Türkiye's Kocaeli PHOTO

A hostage situation erupted at a restaurant in Kocaeli’s Gebze district, northwestern Türkiye, on February 24, leaving one of the establishment’s owners dead after being shot by his business partner.

The suspect, identified as Resul Türk, entered the restaurant around 12:30 p.m. armed with a pump-action shotgun, Caliber.Az reports referring to Turkish media.

Reports suggest that Türk and his business partner, Mehmet Günaydın, had been embroiled in a long-standing dispute over an unpaid debt.

Türk, claiming he had been owed money for nearly a year, shot Günaydın and proceeded to take hostages inside the restaurant. Police, special operations teams, and medical personnel quickly arrived at the scene, urging Türk to surrender and release the injured victim. Despite hours of negotiations, Türk refused to comply and barred anyone from entering the premises.

As police moved in, Türk attempted to take his own life but ultimately released the hostages before being apprehended by special forces. Günaydın was rushed to the hospital but tragically died from his injuries despite medical intervention.

Security footage captured Türk approaching the restaurant with a backpack and a shotgun just before the attack. Authorities have not yet disclosed how many customers and staff were present during the incident.

By Tamilla Hasanova