13 detained for alleged aid, links to al-Qaeda

GAZİANTEP - Doğan News Agency

A group of approximately 100 people gathered in the city center to protest the detentions of 13 people over alleged ties to the al-Qaeda terrorist network. DHA photo

A group of approximately 100 people protested the detentions of 13 people over alleged ties to the al-Qaeda terrorist network yesterday in the southeastern province of Gaziantep.

The protestors said the detainees were respected Islamic figures in the city and they did not have any connections to al-Qaeda.

Police detained 13 people early yesterday for allegedly providing new members and financial aid to al-Qaeda at 15 different addresses in the city, according to reports.

Accordingly, the suspects allegedly tried to convince young people to join al-Qaeda and then send them to Chechnya and Afghanistan.

The recruits’ family members were reported to have gone to the police and complained about the attempts.The suspects were sent to Adana for investigations.

Turkish security forces have regularly targeted suspected al-Qaeda supporters since twin suicide bombings hit Istanbul five days apart in November 2003. Seven men were jailed for life in 2007 over the bombings.