Yet another victim of terrorism:
Posted on 12/23/2003 12:24:30 PM PST by TexKat
ANKARA, Turkey - Police fear militants have infiltrated Turkey to organize attacks on U.S., Israeli and other Western interests or Istanbul's most popular shopping mall over the Christmas season, according to an intelligence document made public Tuesday.
The document, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, follows suicide bombings in November that targeted two synagogues, the British Consulate and a London-based bank. Those attacks killed 62 people, including the suicide bombers.
"It is being detected that the preparations for a large-scale third wave of attacks to follow up the suicide bombings has been completed," said the document.
"Some of those who will carry out the attacks entered Turkey from Syria, and the others were preparing to enter," it said.
The warning was dated Monday and signed by two senior police officials, including the head of the Istanbul security department.
Istanbul police chief Celalettin Cerrah said in a statement that the leaked document was an internal intelligence document aimed at "preventing possible attacks and warning (police) units to be vigilant and to be more sensitive."
Cerrah said the document was erroneously sent to the security departments of several private companies, adding that the police officer responsible has been reassigned.
The document was being circulated Tuesday through e-mail by staffers of the private companies.
The leaked document warned of possible attacks against Western and Israeli targets, as well as the popular Akmerkez shopping mall, which has several foreign-owned shops.
It said that Habip Aktas, a key suspect in the November bombings, was among those planning the new attacks. Captured militants have identified Aktas as the head of al-Qaida in Turkey.
"It is being detected that the preparations for a large-scale third wave of attacks to follow up the suicide bombings has been completed," said the document.
I've seen quite a few things stating that attacks are in the operational stage, not only in Turkey but elsewhere. My biggest hope is that, this time, enough info has been gathered in order for authorities to intervene.
Yet another victim of terrorism:
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