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| Europe |
| Hijacked plane arrives in Istanbul |
| 2006-10-05 |
| (KUNA) -- A total of 105 passengers aboard the Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-400 which was reported hijacked over Greek airspace Tuesday on a flight from Tirana, Albania, to Istanbul, Turkey, finally arrived in Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul after landing in Italy. A passenger told reporters at Ataturk International Airport the hijacker did not hurt any one and has apologized to the passengers. Istanbul's governor, Muammer Guler, said the hijacker was identified as Hakan Ekinci, 28, and is wanted by Turkey's justice courts for absconding from military service. According to private news channel NTV, Ekinci hijacked the plane in protest of the Pope Benedict's visit to Turkey on the 2nd of November. Benedict had angered Muslims, last month, when he gave out a speech connecting Islam with violence. CNN news channel said Ekinci wrote a letter to the pope saying that he is Christian and refuses to be enrolled in the military service in a Muslim army, denying previous reports that he is against the Pope's visit to Turkey. Turkish Media said Ekinci converted to Christianity and sent a letter to the Pope late August asking for his help to stop him from forcefully being recruited in Turkey's military service. Ekinci was born in Izmir city, western Turkey in 1978. He was accused of graft and robbery. He traveled to Albania last May and did not return back. |
| Posted by:Fred |