An employee at Türkiye's Gumushane University took another staff member hostage at gunpoint on Wednesday, prompting the deployment of the Special Operations Unit (POH) of the Turkish National Police as officers work to persuade the suspect to surrender.
The incident occurred at the faculty of engineering and natural sciences on the university’s main campus in the city of Gumushane, located in Türkiye’s Black Sea region.
The suspect, identified as H.T., is reported to be a former specialist sergeant who later joined the university staff. He took a female employee, identified as D.B., hostage with a handgun for reasons that remain unclear.
A large number of Special Operations police were dispatched to the scene shortly after the incident was reported.
Authorities evacuated the area surrounding the faculty building, and snipers were positioned on nearby rooftops as a precaution.
University officials restricted entry and exit to both the campus and the faculty building, while police negotiators continue efforts to end the standoff peacefully.