ISTANBUL - Turkish police detained nine people on charges of having links with the illegal Ansar al-Islam organization in Istanbul, sources said on Monday.
Sources told A.A correspondent that Turkish police detained nine people in operations against Ansar al-Islam which had links with the terrorist organization Al Qaeda.
The same sources said that nine detainees were trained for production of explosives.
The detainees were transferred to Istanbul State Security Court (DGM).
Earlier in the day, Turkish police detained 16 people, who were getting prepared for a bomb attack targeting a NATO summit in Istanbul on June 28-29, in Bursa province in Marmara Region. The detainees who were reported to have links with Ansar al-Islam were also planning a bomb attack on a synagogue in the province.
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.
(BRC-AY) 03.05.2004