BURSA - Bursa Security Department on Monday detained 16 people getting prepared for a bomb attack targeting a NATO summit in Istanbul on June 28-29.
Bursa Security Department said 16 people were captured in an operation.
Those captured were reported to be members of Ansar al-Islam having links with Al Qaeda.
Bursa Governor Oguz Kagan Koksal is expected to make a statement on the issue.
Ansar al-Islam is a militant group accused by Washington of being an ally of al Qaeda and a force behind attacks on U.S. troops occupying Iraq.
Turkish police are stepping up security in Istanbul, Turkey`s largest city and commercial hub, before the NATO summit, where Iraq will feature on the leaders` agenda.
Istanbul suffered a series of devastating suicide truck bomb attacks targeting Neve Shalom Synagogue and Beth Israel Synagogue on November 15, 2003 and on HSBC Bank headquarters and British Consulate General in Istanbul on November 20, 2003 in which 61 people were killed and more than 700 people were injured. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for those attacks. Turkish police captured 69 people in connection with the suicide attacks. Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) will start hearing trial of the 69 suspects in Istanbul on May 31, 2004.
(AY-AÖ) 03.05.2004
BURSA - Bursa Security Department on Monday detained 16 people getting prepared for a bomb attack targeting a NATO summit in Istanbul on June 28-29.
Bursa Security Department said 16 people were captured in an operation.
Those captured were reported to be members of Ansar al-Islam having links with Al Qaeda.
Bursa Governor Oguz Kagan Koksal is expected to make a statement on the issue.
Ansar al-Islam is a militant group accused by Washington of being an ally of al Qaeda and a force behind attacks on U.S. troops occupying Iraq.
Turkish police are stepping up security in Istanbul, Turkey`s largest city and commercial hub, before the NATO summit, where Iraq will feature on the leaders` agenda.
Istanbul suffered a series of devastating suicide truck bomb attacks targeting Neve Shalom Synagogue and Beth Israel Synagogue on November 15, 2003 and on HSBC Bank headquarters and British Consulate General in Istanbul on November 20, 2003 in which 61 people were killed and more than 700 people were injured. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for those attacks. Turkish police captured 69 people in connection with the suicide attacks. Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) will start hearing trial of the 69 suspects in Istanbul on May 31, 2004.
(AY-AÖ) 03.05.2004