Pro-Chechen gunmen charged after Swiss hotel attack in Istanbul
Members of a pro-Chechen group, who held more than 120 people hostage at a luxury Swiss Hotel in the Turkish city of Istanbul in April, have been brought to justice.
According to Turkish newspapers, the gunmen have been charged with taking hostages and belonging to a criminal organisation.
It is not yet known when the case will go to court.
The rebel group held 120 people captive for 12 hours at the “Bosphorus” Hotel owned by the Swissair Group in Istanbul.
The hostages included 12 Swiss citizens, nine of whom were Swissair personnel.
An unsigned fax statement from the pro-Chechen group said their action was aimed at ending the conflict in their homeland.
The statement which was read out on Turkey’s private NTV televsion news promised not to shed any blood.
The attack ended after the gunmen handed over their weapons to the Turkish security forces following the intervention of the Turkish interior minister, Sadettin Tantan.
swissinfo with agencies
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