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.
KOKSAL: ``AS A RESULT OF A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION, ORGANIZATION WAS RENDERED INEFFECTIVE``
Sources told the A.A correspondent on Monday that the detainees were also planning a bomb attack on a synagogue in the province.
Holding a press conference together with Bursa Police Chief Huseyin Capkin, Bursa Governor Oguz Kagan Koksal said, ``16 people were detained in an operation against Ansar al-Islam, a northern Iraq-based group linked to the al Qaida terrorist network. It was revealed that the group was led by Ahmad Faraj in Iraq.``
During the operation, police seized a number of explosive substances in houses and business places of the detainees including their leader who was identified only as Alpaslan T.
Koksal told reporters, ``the detainees were planning terrorist attacks during NATO Summit in Istanbul in June. Also, they were planning to stage an attack on a synagogue in Osmangazi town of Bursa and to rob a bank to obtain income for their group. As a result of a successful operation, the group was rendered ineffective.
``Members of the group were motivating people to encourage them to stage suicide attacks. They were planning to go to Iraq after staging a serious attack to fight against the United States,`` Koksal added.
DETAINEES TRANSFERRED TO COURT
Sources told the A.A correspondent on Monday that the detainees would be testified by the prosecutor on charges of ``being members of a terrorist organization, staging acts of violence on behalf of the organization, having explosives illegally``.
Earlier in the day, police detained 16 people in an operation against Ansar al-Islam, a northern Iraq-based group linked to the al Qaida terrorist network.
(UK-AY) 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.
KOKSAL: ``AS A RESULT OF A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION, ORGANIZATION WAS RENDERED INEFFECTIVE``
Sources told the A.A correspondent on Monday that the detainees were also planning a bomb attack on a synagogue in the province.
Holding a press conference together with Bursa Police Chief Huseyin Capkin, Bursa Governor Oguz Kagan Koksal said, ``16 people were detained in an operation against Ansar al-Islam, a northern Iraq-based group linked to the al Qaida terrorist network. It was revealed that the group was led by Ahmad Faraj in Iraq.``
During the operation, police seized a number of explosive substances in houses and business places of the detainees including their leader who was identified only as Alpaslan T.
Koksal told reporters, ``the detainees were planning terrorist attacks during NATO Summit in Istanbul in June. Also, they were planning to stage an attack on a synagogue in Osmangazi town of Bursa and to rob a bank to obtain income for their group. As a result of a successful operation, the group was rendered ineffective.
``Members of the group were motivating people to encourage them to stage suicide attacks. They were planning to go to Iraq after staging a serious attack to fight against the United States,`` Koksal added.
DETAINEES TRANSFERRED TO COURT
Sources told the A.A correspondent on Monday that the detainees would be testified by the prosecutor on charges of ``being members of a terrorist organization, staging acts of violence on behalf of the organization, having explosives illegally``.
Earlier in the day, police detained 16 people in an operation against Ansar al-Islam, a northern Iraq-based group linked to the al Qaida terrorist network.
(UK-AY) 03.05.2004