| Submit your comments on this article | |||
| Europe | |||
| Turkish Press News | |||
| 2003-12-01 | |||
| These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey’s press on December 01, 2003. BOMBER IN HSBC BANK ATTACK IDENTIFIED AS KUNCAK It was revealed that Ilyas Kuncak, 47, had conducted the suicide attack on the HSBC bank headquarters in Istanbul on November 20, 2003. Before leaving his house for the gory attack, Kuncak told his wife and children that he would pay a visit to holy sites of the Islam in Saudi Arabia. That’s very holy of him. SYRIA REPATRIATES 22 SUSPECTS IN ISTANBUL BOMBINGS Following quadruple suicide attacks in Istanbul in which 57 people were killed and more than 700 others were wounded, the Directorate General of Security revealed that Azat ("Asshat")Ekinci, who gave the orders for the gory attacks, and his supporters, fled to Syria. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul took action and held talks with Syrian officials. Syria has displayed an exemplary cooperation with Turkey against terrorism for the first time. It repatriated Hilmi Tugluoglu, who is believed to have linked to Ekinci, his wife and 20 other people suspected of involvement in suicide attacks. More on the same subject.
OPERATION IN SYRIA Gendarme forces launched an operation and 22 people who helped Azad Ekinci, the head of attacks in Istanbul, were captured in Syria and brought to Turkey. National Intelligence Organization (MIT), Security Directorate General and Gendarme Headquarters made a joint study after the decision of National Security Council (NSC). Security Directorate General told Gendarme Headquarters that Aykut Ekinci, Gurcan Bac, Abdulbakir Karakus, Hilmi Tugluoglu, Leyla Tugluoglu and Burhan Kus, who were linked with suicide attacks in Istanbul, escaped abroad. Gendarme forces determined that suspects were in Syria and they were captured in Syria with an operation and brought to Turkey. Joint Syrian/Turkish snatch job?
ONAL FREED Hasan Onal, a Turkish engineer working on a U.S.-funded road project in Afghanistan, have been freed by Taliban about a month later. When he arrived at the Turkish Embassy in Afghan capital Kabul, Onal expressed his great gladness. Onal and his Afghan driver were abducted at gunpoint on October 30 while travelling in the Shah Joy district of Zabul province on the main highway linking the capital Kabul with the southern province of Kandahar. Humm, did the check clear? FOURTH SUICIDE BOMBER NAMED AS ILYAS KUNCAK The assailants who launched attacks in Istanbul were all identified. Police had earlier identified the suicide bombers of attacks on synagogues in Sisli and Beyoglu districts and British Consulate General. The attack on HSBC Bank in Levent district was launched by Ilyas Kuncak. Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler held a press conference at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport yesterday and revealed the identity of last suicide bomber. He said that DNA samples of Kuncak and his relatives covered each other, adding that interrogation of Kuncak’s wife and children were continuing.
TURKEY LEFT ALONE Political results of the quadruple suicide attacks in Istanbul have led Turkey to be exposed to an unfair exclusion by many countries and international organizations. Britain has begun implementing a visa restriction against Turkish citizens. The Council of Europe has limited its activities. Spain, Australia and Denmark have called on their citizens not to visit Turkey. Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan’s Special Envoy for Human Rights Jilani’s scheduled visit to Turkey was postponed. Still want to join the EU? BAYKAL: ’’THE GOVERNMENT HAS EXCUSED’’ Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal has said, ’’Turkish politicians should act carefully against some certain formations having terrorist potential. It is extremely risky to excuse them. Unfortunately, the government has excused them with its attitudes. The government has excused them by refraining from putting forward their terrorist characteristics.’’ And on the same subject: BAYKAL: NAME OF TERRORISM IS HEZBOLLAH Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that the government was excusing terrorism with its attitude. He added that the name of terrorism was Hezbollah, but the government could not name it. Used Hezbollah against the Kurds, and now that relationship comes back to bite them. Somewhat like our using the Afghan fighters against the Russians and having some of them turn into Taliban. Not quite the same, but you know people will make that connection. | |||
| Posted by:Steve |