Turkish police arrest gang members who abducted Qatari businessman for $400,000 ransom

[Haber]

The Qatari businessman was kidnapped in the Iskenderun district in the Turkish province of Hatay, and then transferred to Adana.

A number of people involved in a gang that abducted a Qatari businessmen were arrested by Turkish police, local news reported.

According to Haber Turk, at least nine members of a gang kidnapped the unidentified Qatari businessman in the southern Turkish province of Hatay and demanded a $400,000 ransom.

The crime occurred on February 1 in Iskenderun where the Qatari was captured with his friend, who was only identified as a foreign national.

The gang then transferred the hostages to the city of Adana before demanding a large ransom from the family of the businessman. They had reportedly received half of the amount prior to the arrest.

The kidnappers gave the hostage’s family five days to pay the remaining $200,000 or risk him being sent to Syria.

Shortly after, the Iskenderun District Police Department raided at least 9 addresses before locating the Turkish gang in a raid that was documented in a video clip that was shared online.

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At least four of the kidnappers are still on the run. The police department confirmed efforts to arrest the remainder are ongoing. 

During the raid, police confiscated the gangs’ belongings, including identity cards, passports, and bank cards, as well as the weapons used to conduct the abduction.

At least two automatic rifles, one rotating blade, one large wedge, one black ski mask, a passport, an ID and various other items were found.

The Qatari businessman and his friend were returned to the Iskenderun area to prepare for his return to Doha, the report added.

The fate of the $200,000 paid to the assailants is unknown.


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