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Gunshots After Turkey Prosecutor Taken Hostage

Gunmen Take Prosecutor Hostage At Turkish Court

Several gunshots have been heard at a court in Istanbul where a prosecutor has been taken hostage.

Smoke has also been seen coming from the building, where an unverified image appeared to show Mehmet Selim Kiraz with a gun to his head and a hand over his mouth - with his hands apparently bound with cable ties.

Turkish special forces entered the court earlier, with the city's police chief saying no harm had come to the hostage.

Sky News has decided not to show an image of the Mr Kiraz in distress.

The photograph was published online by the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) - a banned far-left organisation.

In the picture, one of the militants has concealed his face with a red and yellow scarf, while flags and posters bearing the organisation's insignia hang in the background.

The group, which has been listed as a terror organisation by the US, the EU and Turkey, had threatened to kill Mr Kiraz at 1.36pm UK time if their demands were not met.

According to witnesses, at least three shots have been fired inside the courthouse and the police have been trying to negotiate with two militants via a mediator.

The Turkish government has reportedly banned media coverage of the ongoing stand-off.

Istanbul's police chief, Selami Altunok, said: "There is no problem concerning any of our colleagues. Our negotiators and Umit Kocasakal, the head of the Istanbul Bar Association, are talking to the militants. We are trying to resolve the issue without anyone being hurt."

The chief prosecutor was investigating the death of Berkin Elvan - a teenager who died in March 2014 from injuries inflicted by the police.

He spent 269 days in a coma after being hit by a gas canister fired during anti-government protests, and his treatment by officers caused outrage nationwide.

The DHKP-C wants the officer it blames for the 15-year-old's death to "confess" on national television. Mr Kiraz was reportedly handed a list of suspect policemen by investigators two weeks ago.

Another condition for the prosecutor's safe release is that the armed fighters in the courthouse are allowed to leave unharmed.

It remains unclear how the group smuggled guns into the courthouse, although many Turkish towns and cities were hit with the worst blackout in 15 years on Tuesday.

Some far-left groups in Turkey believe the authorities have orchestrated a cover-up by refusing to reveal the identities of those responsible for Berkin's death.

An opposition politician, writing on Twitter, claimed he had spoken to Berkin's father, Sami, who said: "My son died but I don't want any other person to die. The prosecutor must be released. Blood cannot be washed away with blood.

"I don't want anyone to even get a nosebleed. Until today, I've only demanded justice, and I only want a fair trial."

Many Turkish news channels had been broadcasting live scenes from the courthouse, but have returned to their normal programming after a media blackout was imposed for "national security" reasons.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan previously sparked controversy when he branded Berkin a "thug" and encouraged his supporters to boo the teenager's mother at a rally.

In 2013, the DHKP-C was behind a suicide bombing outside the US Embassy.