Armed standoff at Turkish restaurant ends with police eliminating gunman

A gunman who shot one person and took multiple hostages at a restaurant in western Türkiye was subdued by special forces Monday after an hourslong standoff, local authorities reported.

The incident began around 12:15 p.m. local time when an armed suspect entered a restaurant in Gebze’s Osman Yilmaz neighborhood, located in Kocaeli province. The unidentified assailant shot one person and proceeded to hold other patrons hostage inside the establishment on Station Street.

Special operations police units and emergency medical teams quickly responded to the scene, establishing a security perimeter around the restaurant. The suspect refused to allow medical personnel to treat the shooting victim during the standoff.

Law enforcement successfully eliminated the gunman after a tense situation during which he had prevented anyone from entering the premises.

The victim, whose identity has not been released, was transported to a local hospital following the intervention. Medical officials indicate the victim’s condition is critical.