ISTANBUL - Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler has said, ''DNA tests have unveiled that Mesut Cabuk, 29, had conducted Saturday's bomb attack on Beth Israel Synagogue while Gokhan Elaltuntas, 22, staged the second attack on Neve Shalom.''
Together with Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah, Guler held a press conference on Wednesday.
''As a result of security forces' works on evidences gathered from the scenes of the attacks, it was revealed that it was Cabuk who staged the bomb attack on Beth Israel synagogue. Meanwhile, DNA tests confirmed that Elaltuntas carried out the attack on Neve Shalom synagogue,'' he said.
Guler told reporters, ''when we look at the target and method of the actions and the connections of these two people, they are parallel with terrorist actions undertaken by al-Qaida terrorist network in other parts of the world.''
Two dual bomb attacks rocked Istanbul's two main synagogues on Saturday killing 25 people and wounding more than 300 others.
Guler told a press conference that simultaneous bomb attacks against two synagogues in Sisli and Beyoglu districts of Istanbul were the biggest terrorist attacks staged in Istanbul and Turkey in recent years.
''Therefore, the attacks will be totally illuminated,'' Guler said.
Guler recalled that big blasts occurred in Beth Israel Synagogue situated on Nakiye Elgun Street in Sisli district and Neve Shalom Synagogue on Buyuk Hendek Street in Beyoglu district at 9.22 a.m. on Saturday.
Defining the two attacks as the biggest terrorist attacks staged in Turkey and Istanbul in recent years, Guler said, ''it has become definite that the bomb attacks staged in Istanbul were suicide attacks staged by loading a great deal of explosives on lorries. Twenty-five people, including two suicide bombers, died and 303 people were injured in two blasts.''
''As a result of investigation of evidence in the spots of two blasts, it has been verified with DNA testing that Mesut Cabuk born in eastern Bingol province in 1974 was the suicide bomber in attack on Beth Israel Synagogue and Gokhan Elaltuntas born in Bingol in 1981 was responsible for the attack on Neve Shalom Synagogue,'' Guler said.
Guler added, ''when the target and style of attacks and the connections of the assailants are taken into consideration, the incidents at the synagogues show parallels with acts carried out by al Qaeda.''
Security units continued their investigation, Guler said.
Guler recalled that interrogations and investigation were carried out in coordination with State Security Court (DGM) Chief Prosecutor's Office and refrained from commenting on the issue since DGM banned leakage of information to press.
Noting that Istanbul police had well-evaluated evidence collected after the attacks, Guler said that it was a big success of Turkish police and Istanbul Police Department.
''Further investigations will be carried out in coordination and cooperation with international organizations and intelligence units. Thus, the attacks will be totally illuminated,'' Guler said.
Guler pointed out damages of two blasts in Istanbul had been discussed by the Council of Ministers and the cabinet stated that necessary assistance would be met by emergency fund.
Istanbul Governor Guler wished such an incident would never occur again.
Asked about the financial dimensions of the damages, Guler said that damage assessment works continued and they would be completed within a few days.
(BRC-AY) 19.11.2003