ISTANBUL - Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said on Friday that Istanbul police have detained one of key names of group among planners of bomb attacks in the city in 2003.
When he was reminded of some news stories which said that Azad Ekinci who was wanted in connection with bomb attacks in Istanbul on November 15 and 20, 2003 died in Iraq, Guler said, ''there is not any confirmation on this issue. We earlier announced that Azad Ekinci has connection with those incidents and was among in planners of those attacks. We also said that Ekinci fled abroad. We did not receive any confirmation on incident in Iraq.''
Guler said, ''a very important person who was among planners of incidents in Istanbul has also been in the custody of Istanbul police. Police continue to question this person.''
Noting that this person was detained on Thursday, Guler did not answer to questions on identity of the suspect.
Upon another question, Guler said, ''Istanbul police have detained one of key names of group among planners of terrorist attacks in the city. Police continued to question this person.''
When asked whether or not this person was Gurcan Bac, Guler said that the person that he mentioned was not Bac.
(EÖ-AÖ) 30.01.2004