“Kartepe” ferry that was hijacked Friday night in Turkey has been liberated in a Special Forces operation on Saturday morning.

Hijacker acted alone. During the operation, the terrorist was killed. He was about 28-30 years.

“Kartepe” was travelling between Izmit and Golcuk in the Gulf of Izmit when it was hijacked around 5.45 pm (1545 GMT). The assailants said they were acting on behalf of a wing of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Earlier reports said the assailant wanted access to media.

There were 18 passengers and 6 crews on the ferry, according to Turkish Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim, who said the authorities were able to contact captain of the ship. The terrorist who is with the captain says he carries a bomb, the minister also said.

Coastguard vessels are trecking the ferry as it “draws zigzags” in the Sea of Marmara, east of Istanbul, Yıldırım said.

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