ISTANBUL - Adnan Ersoz, who was taken under custody for having connection with bomb attacks in Istanbul, was arrested on Friday on charges of attempting to overthrow constitutional order by force.
Ersoz was sent to State Security Court (DGM) following procedures in Anti-Terrorism Department and later sent to court on duty.
Ersoz who was re-interrogated in DGM on duty, was arrested.
It was reported that Istanbul police interrogated more than 500 people following the bomb attacks on November 15 and 20, and 33 people, including Ersoz, were arrested.
It was also determined that people who were taken into custody and Feridun Ugurlu, Mesut Cabuk, Gokhan Elatuntas and Ilyas Kuncak who were defined as ``suicide bombers`` did not have links with any terrorist organization in Turkey.
Ersoz, in his interrogation, stated that he had gone to Afghanistan in 1997, and got military and political training there. Ersoz said he met with Osama bin Laden, leader of Al Qaida, in Kandahar in 2001.
Ersoz said he attended a meeting in Laden`s house, and had breakfast with him, but denied that he received orders from him to carry out the attacks.
Defending that he did not know that there would be bomb attacks in Istanbul, Ersoz said he came from Iran to Turkey to surrender as he repented.
Ersoz claimed that Habip Aktas who was at large was the leader of Al Qaida`s structuring in Turkey.
Ersoz said he knew some of the suicide bombers like Azat Ekinci, Gurcan Bac and Habip Aktas who were wanted in connection with the bomb attacks.
Meanwhile, Turkey applied to Interpol to issue red bulletin for six suspects in the investigation including Habip Aktas, Gurcan Bac and Azat Ekinci.
It was also reported that vehicles, loaded with bombs, were camouflaged with detergents and soap packages.
There are currently five people under custody in Anti-Terrorism Department in connection with the bomb attacks.
(AY-AÖ) 20.12.2003