Three planes carrying 466 activists from the Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces have arrived in Istanbul from Israel, as international pressure mounts for a full investigation into the incident.
The BBC reports the activists returned to an enthusiastic welcome from about 1000 people waving Turkish and Palestinian flags, and shouting anti-Israeli slogans.
Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc made a fiery speech at the airport, accusing Israel of piracy.
All the Turkish activists are to have a medical check before being sent home and consular staff are on hand to help activists from other countries.
The planes also flew back the bodies of nine activists killed when Israeli commandos took control of the six aid vessels.
Hours earlier, two Turkish air ambulances picked up wounded activists and took them to Ankara.
New Zealand woman Nicola Enchmarch was among those flown to Istanbul.
The BBC reports some of the freed activists said they had tried to defend themselves against heavily armed commandos. One said the soldiers had fired indiscriminately.
British activist Sarah Colbourne told the BBC the water was literally bristling with ships, helicopters and gunfire. She says what happened was "absolutely horrific".
