ISTANBUL - Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) Prosecutor's Office filed a suit on Wednesday about 69 suspects who were captured in connection with four terrorist attacks which took place in Istanbul three months ago.
In a 128-page indictment, Istanbul prosecutors demanded convictions and life imprisonment for five of the suspects for attempting to change Turkey's constitutional order through the use of force, and sentences from 4 1/2 to 22 1/2 years for the remaining 64 for having membership in an illegal group and abetting terrorists.
The indictment noted that nine other suspects including suspected ringleaders Habip Aktas, Gurcan Bac and Azad Ekinci were at large and were not immediately charged.
The indictment noted that 61 persons including the four suicide bombers died and 644 others were injured in the four separate terrorist attacks which took place in Istanbul on November 15 and November 20, 2003.
The indictment said Habip Aktas, one of the ringleaders of the terrorist organization Al Qaida gave the order for the attacks, which were allegedly financed by al-Qaida members in Europe and Iran.
No trial date has yet been set. The case will be heard by Istanbul State Security Court (DGM).
(Öª-AÖ) 25.02.2004