LEAD: Turkish commandos storm ferry, kill hijacker

Nov 12, 2011, 6:02 GMT

By Jasper Mortimer, dpa Eds: Adds new quotes =

Ankara (dpa) - Turkish commandos stormed a hijacked ferry in the Marmara Sea early Saturday, killing the lone pirate and releasing his 25 hostages unharmed.

Istanbul Governor Hussein Avni Mutlu said the hijacker was a man about 30 years old who had claimed to be a member of the Kurdistan Workers Party guerrilla group.

Mutlu said the pirate's identity was being checked, but 'from the communications that we had with the hijacker, it was clearly understood that he is a member of the terrorist organisation,' he said.

The hijacker had taken over the catamaran ferry Friday afternoon, claiming to be armed with a bomb. Mutlu said he had a 'mechanism and cables' strapped to his body.

Naval commandos stormed the ferry about 12 hours later in the bay of Silivri west of Istanbul after it ran out of fuel and anchored. State television reported that the strike force swam to the ferry.

'It was a careful and rapidly executed operation without any exchange of fire,' Mutlu said of the 5:35 am raid.

Turkish broadcaster NTV showed images of the 19 passengers and six crew leaving the ferry, named 'Kartepe,' via coastal patrol boats.

Ambulances took some passengers to hospital for checkups. Officials said nobody was hurt other than the hijacker.