Tuesday
Oct112005
Al Qaeda suspect says upset by 2003 Istanbul bombs
Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 14:11
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L10687558.htm
10 Oct 2005 16:03:55 GMT
Source: Reuters
ISTANBUL, Oct 10 (Reuters) - A Turkish al Qaeda suspect held by U.S. forces
in Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison said in a statement read out in court on Monday
he was saddened by a series of Istanbul suicide bombings that killed scores
of people in 2003.
A Turkish cell of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network claimed responsibility
for the truck bomb attacks in November 2003 on two synagogues, the local
headquarters of the London-based HSBC Bank and the British consulate.
The Istanbul court is hearing charges against 71 suspected Islamist
militants in connection with the attacks which killed 61 people, including
the bombers, and wounded hundreds more.
Burhan Kus said he had travelled to Syria before the bombings on orders from
Syrian suspected militant Luia Sakra, known as Abu Mohammed, and Habip
Akdas, a Turkish associate.
"When we got to Abu Mohammed's house, Habip Akdas was watching television
intensely," Kus said in the statement obtained by Turkish investigators who
had visited him in jail to take testimonies. "When they saw the news of the
explosions in Istanbul, Akdas and Abu Mohammed cheered 'God is great'.
"I thought this sort of attack was going to be carried out against U.S. or
Israeli forces, I was very saddened it was done in Turkey," said the
statement quoted by the CNN Turk Web site.
Security sources have said Sakra, a bomb-making expert, is the top figure in
Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network in Turkey. Turkish police captured him in
August and a court charged him with a plot to bomb Israeli tourists.
Turkish media, quoting security sources, have said he had secured financing
for the Istanbul attacks and received orders from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al
Qaeda's leader in Iraq.
Habip Akdas is believed to have been killed fighting U.S. forces in Iraq.
Turkey has asked Iraq to extradite Kus and Habip's brother, Sadettin Akdas,
to face charges in connection with the bombings.
10 Oct 2005 16:03:55 GMT
Source: Reuters
ISTANBUL, Oct 10 (Reuters) - A Turkish al Qaeda suspect held by U.S. forces
in Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison said in a statement read out in court on Monday
he was saddened by a series of Istanbul suicide bombings that killed scores
of people in 2003.
A Turkish cell of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network claimed responsibility
for the truck bomb attacks in November 2003 on two synagogues, the local
headquarters of the London-based HSBC Bank and the British consulate.
The Istanbul court is hearing charges against 71 suspected Islamist
militants in connection with the attacks which killed 61 people, including
the bombers, and wounded hundreds more.
Burhan Kus said he had travelled to Syria before the bombings on orders from
Syrian suspected militant Luia Sakra, known as Abu Mohammed, and Habip
Akdas, a Turkish associate.
"When we got to Abu Mohammed's house, Habip Akdas was watching television
intensely," Kus said in the statement obtained by Turkish investigators who
had visited him in jail to take testimonies. "When they saw the news of the
explosions in Istanbul, Akdas and Abu Mohammed cheered 'God is great'.
"I thought this sort of attack was going to be carried out against U.S. or
Israeli forces, I was very saddened it was done in Turkey," said the
statement quoted by the CNN Turk Web site.
Security sources have said Sakra, a bomb-making expert, is the top figure in
Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network in Turkey. Turkish police captured him in
August and a court charged him with a plot to bomb Israeli tourists.
Turkish media, quoting security sources, have said he had secured financing
for the Istanbul attacks and received orders from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, al
Qaeda's leader in Iraq.
Habip Akdas is believed to have been killed fighting U.S. forces in Iraq.
Turkey has asked Iraq to extradite Kus and Habip's brother, Sadettin Akdas,
to face charges in connection with the bombings.
in Terrorism
Terrorism 
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