Turkish police detain al-Qaeda suspects

Police detained eight people in western Turkey over alleged links to the Al-Qaeda network, Anatolia news agency reported Friday. Police arrested seven suspects during simultaneous raids at different adresses in Bursa province and one in Balikesir province, Anatolia said. The suspects are claimed to have been trained at al-Qaeda camps in some countries and have recruited members to the organisation, it added. Turkish security forces have regularly targeted suspected Al-Qaeda supporters since twin suicide bombings hit Istanbul in November 2003. A Turkish cell of Al-Qaeda was held responsible for the attacks, in which explosive-laden trucks first targeted two synagogues, and then the British consulate and a British bank, killing a total of 63 people, including the British consul. Seven men were jailed for life in 2007 over the bombings, among them a Syrian national who masterminded and financed the attacks.