Police detained 23 people in an operation in Istanbul on charges of ''being members of radical Islamic terrorist organization''. The suspects who were captured by the police four days ago on charges of ''being members of radical Islamic terrorist organization that defends Vahabism and Selefism'' were transferred to the Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) Chief Prosecutor's Office following their interrogation and procedures at police department. Six of the suspects are claimed to have ties to persons who staged bomb attacks on November 15 and 20, 2003 in Istanbul and named in testimony of several defendants. | Still working this case, well done |
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 DGM will start hearing trial of the 69 suspects in Istanbul on May 31, 2004. |