Man detained at Finnish honorary consulate in Istanbul

ISTANBUL

A man has been detained at Finland’s honorary consulate in Istanbul on Jan. 13, triggering alarm in the area around the office, located near Istanbul’s Taksim Square.

The man, who arrived at the consulate’s building early in the morning, drew out a knife and threatened the employee, according to Turkish media. He was eventually neutralized by police dispatched to the office.

The honorary consul of Finland is prominent businessman Jeff Hakko, a deputy chair of the board of Vakko, one of the most important textile companies of Turkey. Hakko took over as honorary consul in December 2014.  

The attacker was taken to a police station. His motives for the attack were not immediately clear.

The Finnish embassy in Ankara denied Turkish media reports that the man briefly took an honorary consulate employee hostage.