ISTANBUL - Security officials have said that a member of the terrorist network of Al-Qaida was captured on January 29, 2004 in an operation about Istanbul bombings on November 15 and 20, 2003.
Releasing a written statement on Monday, Provincial Directorate of Anti-Terrorism recalled that suicide attacks were staged by using pickup trucks loaded with bombs on Neve Shalom and Beth Israel Synagogues on November 15 and on British Consulate General and HSBC Bank headquarters on November 20, 2003.
Noting that 45 people were arrested by State Security Courts (DGMs) since the beginning of operations on November 15, 2003, the directorate said that a member of international terrorist network Al-Qaida was captured in Istanbul on January 29, 2004. He was identified as Baki Yigit.
The directorate said that 113 CDs, 20 floppy disks, 5 micro cassettes, 9 hard discs and a laptop were confiscated in the same operation.
''During his interrogation, the detainee said that he held talks with leader and military officials of the terrorist network abroad. He said that they had given him directives for acts. The detainee said that he had received finance from the terrorist network for his efforts of planning training programs in military camps.''
A total of 58 people were killed in the quadruple suicide attacks in Istanbul in November. Among those killed in the attacks was British Consul General Roger Short. Suicide bombers Mesut Cabuk, Gokhan Elaltuntas, Feridun Ugurlu and Ilyas Kuncak also died in the attacks.
(UK-AÖ) 02.02.2004