Quirky News
Villagers mistake bird for spy
A migratory bird has caused alarm in Turkey - after villagers mistook it for an Israeli spy.
Suspicions were aroused when the bird, a common European bee-eater, was found dead in a field with a metal ring around its leg stamped 'Israel'.
They called the police after deciding its nostrils were unusually large and may have carried a microchip fitted by Israeli intelligence for spying.
At one point a counterterrorism unit became involved in the case, reports the BBC.
But the bird's corpse was eventually taken to government experts for examination and declared safe.
The Turkish agriculture ministry examined the bird and assured residents of the village, near the city of Gaziantep, that it was common practice to fit a ring to migratory birds in order to track their movements.
An official at the ministry said it took some effort to persuade local police that the little bee-eater posed no threat to national security.
what do you think?
George McMullen
Look! We've caught a spy! That's a bird... "But it must be a spy!" Why? "It has a tag round its foot (that may possibly be a name or owner's surname tag) and it's nostrils are huge!!!!" ...if it was a spy, then Israeli forces aren't exactly smart if they're putting a tag on it saying "This is Israeli property"... kind of a give-away, y'know?
Gary W Beard
what's that up in the sky?? is it a bird?..is it a plane?, no its an Israeli spy. Idiots. Actually we shouldn't laugh, there is a story that we once lynched a monkey who we thought was a Frenchman.
David Bennett
wasn't that in combe martin?
Gordon Wright
The story about the monkey refers to the Hartlepool area where, during the Napoleonic wars, local fishermen allegedly hanged a monkey believing it to be a French spy. To this day, people from the area are sometimes disparagingly referred to as "monkey hangers".
Valerie Wood
Poor bird. Another victim of human stupidity.
Matthew Stoner
The report doesn't say it was killed...it was found dead in a field
Jacqui Morrison
Hope Barry Manilow never plays that village!
Name witheld
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Raymond Castle
There are some really daft people in this world, and they don't all inhabit the houses of parliament!
Fleur Black
Turkey is a long way off being civilised and modern enough to be in the EU.
Jelly Monty
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
marconisparkgap
12:33pm on 17/5/2012
It looks like the Turks will settle in well when eventually they join the EU.