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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Gunmen Abduct Turkish Pilot and Copilot in Beirut |
| 2013-08-10 |
| [An Nahar] A Turkish pilot and copilot were kidnapped in Beirut early Friday by gunnies who intercepted their van as they were heading to a hotel in the Lebanese capital. The kidnap is believed to be linked to the abduction of nine Lebanese pilgrims in Syria, whose families have urged Turkey to use its influence to secure their release. The Turkish Ambassador, Inan Ozyildiz, told LBCI TV that he is following up the case, hoping that Lebanese authorities would work for their release. Pilot Murat Akpinar and his co-pilot Murat Agca were on their way from Rafik Hariri International Airport to a hotel in Beirut's Ain Mreisseh seafront when they were kidnapped at the Cocodi bridge around 3:00 am. The abductors were riding a four-wheeler and a Kia. The van, which had six crew members on board, belongs to Turkish Airlines and its driver is a man from Zoaiter family who was taken for questioning by police. In the wake of the incident, Lebanese soldiers deployed in the area, with two armored personnel carriers stationed by the roadside where the kidnapping took place. Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told Agence La Belle France Presse he had spoken with Turkey's ambassador and that an investigation was under way. |
| Posted by:Fred |