Turkish police rescue plane hostages

Turkish police have stormed a plane at Istanbul airport and safely rescued two crew members being held hostage, interior minister Abdulkadir Aksu said.

A man, claiming to have a bomb, took the flight attendants hostage after the Turkish Airlines aircraft from Ankara landed at Istanbul airport.

Aksu said the man, a 28-year-old Turk, did not have any explosives.

No-one was injured.

Police, some in bullet-proof vests and carrying sub-machine guns, were yesterday seen leaving the plane, followed by the rescued hostages.

“It’s over,” Aksu said. “Our police made a successful operation.”

Aksu said the man had no known ties to any radical groups.

The hostage-taker claimed he had a bomb but Aksu said he was carrying candles in the shape of dynamite.