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Gunmen kidnap two Turkish Airlines pilots in Lebanese capital

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Lebanon’s Interior Ministry says gunmen have kidnapped two pilots working for the Turkish Airlines in the capital, Beirut.

“A kidnapping operation took place at 3:00 a.m. targeting a bus carrying several members of a Turkish Airlines crew going from the airport to the hotel,” said Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan Charbel.

The Lebanese minister also stated, “Gunmen kidnapped two passengers from the bus, the pilot and co-pilot.”

Lebanese authorities have launched an investigation into the details of the abduction. Security forces have also been deployed near the scene of the incident.

In this regard, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Levent Gumrukcu said Ankara immediately contacted the Lebanese officials regarding the incident. “They are conducting a very comprehensive investigation,” Gumrukcu said.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the kidnapping so far.

However, there are speculations that the abduction could be linked to the case of nine Lebanese Shia pilgrims who were kidnapped in Syria’s Aleppo in May 2012. Some of those pilgrims have been released, but most are still held captive.

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