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| Europe |
| Sakra's a major player, got personal approval from Binny for attacks |
| 2005-08-12 |
| Syrian national Louai Sakra, captured at Diyarbakir Airport, appears to be an al-Qaeda region head. The key al-Qaeda member, who visits Turkey frequently, was hosted by Habib Akdas, the head of al-Qaeda Turkey organization. The bookkeepers of the financing provided by al-Qaeda through Sakra for November 15-20 attacks were Habip Akdas and Gurcan Bac. Sakra is reported to have consulted Osama bin Laden himself about the plan to attack Israeli cruise ships in Antalya. Sakra contacted bin Laden three months ago for the last time. Police determined Sakra came to Turkey many times between 1998 and 2000. The region head, reported to be one of the few persons who can speak with al-Qaeda leader Laden, used his right to remain silent at the police headquarters and prosecutor's office. However, police sent the interrogation minutes to the prosecutor's office. He was trained by Iraqi insurgents in bomb fabrication as he took part in bomb attacks. An Istanbul court arrested him after the duration of legal custody expired. The other Syrian national Hamed Obysi, captured at Antalya was arrested on Wednesday. "I did not aim to hurt Turkish people. I was to target Israeli tourists. The attack would have taken place in the open sea. No Turk would have been hurt," Sakra reportedly said. Officials reported he was responsible for al-Qaeda in Syria, Jordan, Iran, Iraq and Turkey. Police indicated Sakra and Obysi, who aimed to attack Israeli cruiser ships at Antalya, came to Antalya to activate the sleeping cells for the purpose. Sakra is also reported to have rented an eight-meter long boat anchored at Antalya Port. Security units have begun to chase after the sleeping cells, which are to be commissioned to realize bombing attacks. According to a high-ranking police official, it is not possible for one to sacrifice himself who directly meets with bin Laden, finances many bloody attacks and is the region leader. The same official claims that $120,000, which was found in Sakra's pocket, had been brought to be given to the families of militants preparing for this activity. This is the reason that the operation is kept secret from the beginning to the end. Turkish police had first decoded the name Sakra after the suicide attacks in Istanbul. When Adnan Ersoz and Mehmet Ince, who are part of the al-Qaeda Turkey structure, had been detained, they gave the name Louai Sakra. Sakra's best known code name among al-Qaeda members is Syrian Alaaddin. Syrian Sakra is registered as financer and among the wanted persons list in the "Al-Qaeda's Turkey Elements" judicial document continuing at Besiktas the 10th High Criminal Court. Intelligence Office gives the following information about Sakra: The financer of the terrorist activities is referred as having many faces in the intelligence report. His real name is Luayibi Mohammed Hac Bakr al-Saka, born in Syria in 1973 and lives in Europe. He is one of the top-ranking administrators of al-Qaeda and runs the financial work of the organization. "Lian Ben Mohammed Saka," "Abu Mohammed," "Abu Haya al-Suri," and "Ala al-Din" are some of the code names he uses. Information about Syrian Louai Sakra can be found in the depositions made by Ersoz and Ince. Intelligence reports have that the $50,000 of $150,000 used in the activities were provided by Syrian Sakra when Aktas could not get sufficient financial support from al-Qaeda in Pakistan. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |