ISTANBUL - Turkish prosecutor Zekeriye Oz has sought life imprisonment for four suspects who are tried on charges of getting involved in bomb attacks staged in (Turkish metropolis of) Istanbul in 2003.
29 suspects joined today's hearing at the Istanbul Criminal Court.
Stating the merits of the case, prosecutor Oz asked the court to sentence four suspects named Fevzi Yitiz, Adnan Ersoz, Yusuf Polat and Harun Ilhan, to life imprisonment on charges of ''attempting to change the Constitutional order by force.''
These four suspects are also tried on charges of being a member of the terrorist organization al-Qaida.
On November 15th, 2003, two separate explosions occurred in front of Neve Shalom Synagogue and Beth Israel Synagogue in Istanbul. 25 people died and 262 people were injured in the blasts which were staged by two pick-up trucks loaded with explosives.
On November 20th, 2003, twin suicide attacks were staged on HSBC Bank headquarters and British Consulate General in Istanbul. 33 people including British Consul General in Istanbul Roger Short died, and 450 others were injured in these attacks which were also staged by two pick-up trucks.