Three suspects preparing bombs caught in Turkey’s İzmir

İZMİR – Doğan News Agency

AA photo

Three suspected militants of the outlawed group Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP) were caught in an operation on early April 5 in the Aegean province of İzmir as they were preparing a bomb attack on the city.

İzmir counter-terrorism and intelligence police units had followed the suspected militants, and later raided a cell house where the militants had prepared the explosives in the city’s Buca district.

The militants detained in the operation were members of the MLKP’s armed wing, known as Armed Forces of the Poor and the Oppressed (FESK). Police also seized the equipment used to make bombs and Triacetone Triperoxidean (TATP), a high explosive bomb, during searches inside the house. Fake identity cards were also seized during the operation.

It has also been revealed that the militants were trained to use arms and make bombs in the Syrian city of Kobane near Turkish border and arrived at the cell house to make explosives ready for attack. 

It has been alleged the militants were to specifically target security forces in a potential attack. 

The three detained militants were later transferred to the İzmir counter-terrorism branch office.