Turkish pair end Kiruna standoff
A Turkish husband and wife ended their 11-hour standoff against Swedish police late on Monday after hours of threatening to commit suicide inside the Migration Board office in Kiruna, Sweden.
The pair, both in their thirties, were asked to come to the board office to find out if they would be granted asylum in Sweden. The two took their son and daughter to the office, but when the Migration board told them their request was denied, the husband poured gasoline on himself and said he was ready to light a match.
The drama continued through the afternoon, while police evacuated the building. The two children were released around 6 p.m. after police negotiators spoke to the parents.
“It was not very dramatic in getting them out,” said Lage Wuotilainen, police spokesman in Kiruna Monday night, adding that both were taken to the hospital for evaluation after they gave up around 10 p.m.
It is not known how the family has been living in Kiruna or under what conditions they were allowed to stay.
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The pair, both in their thirties, were asked to come to the board office to find out if they would be granted asylum in Sweden. The two took their son and daughter to the office, but when the Migration board told them their request was denied, the husband poured gasoline on himself and said he was ready to light a match.
The drama continued through the afternoon, while police evacuated the building. The two children were released around 6 p.m. after police negotiators spoke to the parents.
“It was not very dramatic in getting them out,” said Lage Wuotilainen, police spokesman in Kiruna Monday night, adding that both were taken to the hospital for evaluation after they gave up around 10 p.m.
It is not known how the family has been living in Kiruna or under what conditions they were allowed to stay.
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