Anti-Terrorism Effort Hits Close to Home for O'Neal, Models
By: G. Zisk Rice
Posted: 01/28/2008
GAZIANTEP, Turkey - They didn't plan to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but nevertheless Collin O'Neal and several models found themselves much too close to an anti-terrorism raid in this Turkish city last week.
O'Neal said he and models Jean Franko, Jesus Betancourt and Jacko were visiting a local museum on Jan. 24 during a break from filming when the proverbial "all hell broke loose."
"I enjoy using my frequent flyer miles to bring models from around the world together to shoot in exotic locations. I have had a lot of people ask about Jacko, so I decided to go get him from Syria and bring him to Turkey to film a few more scenes with him for my website with two of my favorite European models," O'Neal said by way of explanation for what the men were doing in southeastern Turkey at precisely the moment when an anti-Al Queda raid took place around the corner.
"I heard gunfire and then what sounded like two explosions followed by people fleeing through the streets, and police cars came from nowhere flying towards the scene," he recalled.
After they completed their tour of the museum, O'Neal, Franko, Betancourt and Jacko discovered on a television the museum's guards were watching what had caused the
commotion: A police officer and four people described as "militants" were killed, and five other policemen and a civilian were wounded in a clash that began when the militants opened fire on authorities. The standoff lasted more than 12 hours and resulted in the capture of 20 suspects.
"The safety of my models is always my main priority, so I evaluated the situation and I thought it was best to return to our hotel as quickly and safely as possible," O'Neal said.
Professionals to the core, later that evening the group finished filming a threesome between Franko, Jacko and Betancourt. O'Neal said he plans to post the footage on his
website on Feb. 7.
