Turkish police on alert over possible poison gas attack

AP ^ | 10 Sept 2002

[Turk2]

Turkish police on alert over possible poison gas attack

Tue Sep 10,12:57 PM ET

ANKARA, Turkey - Turkish police are on alert for the possibility that militants linked to al-Qaida may have smuggled poison gas into the country and could be planning attacks, officials said Tuesday.

Police have also heightened security around U.S., British and Israeli diplomatic missions, businesses and military bases ahead of the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, the officials said.

Turkey, NATO ( news - web sites)'s sole Muslim member, has backed Washington's war on terrorism in Afghanistan ( news - web sites) and leads the international peacekeeping force in Kabul. Officials fear that Turkey could be a target for attacks by the al-Qaida network.

Deputy Police Chief Feyzullah Arslan sent a memorandum to all regional police departments warning of a possible "revenge attack" by al-Qaida militants to coincide with the Sept. 11 anniversary, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

"Terror organizations with religious motives have smuggled poison gas into the country," Anatolia quoted Arslan as saying in the warning sent Sept 6.

A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that police were on alert against a possible gas attack, but gave no further information. He also confirmed that security had been stepped up around diplomatic missions for the anniversary of the attacks.

A police official also confirmed the Anatolia report, but provided no further details.

Anatolia said 58 people suspected of links with al-Qaida have been detained in Turkey since Sept. 11.

Turkish security guard looks at artwork in an exhibition organized in memory of the Sept. 11 events, at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Tuesday Sept. 10, 2002. The exhibition will be opened to public on Wednesday, Sept. 11. (AP Photo/Osman Orsal)

[Chad Fairbanks]

Because if someone else, other than the US or Israel, is attacked then it's OK to strike back... it's just some nations which are not, apparently, allowed to defend themselves - according to "world opinion"...

Or, maybe I'm just cynical...

[Petronski]

I like the artwork. It is not faithful to the WTC architecture, implying to the viewer that those bastards could do it anywhere. Chilling and effective.

[Shermy]

Well, Iran is trying to "get rid" of it's new Al Qaeda guests.

[DoctorMichael]

To Turkey: Give us the "Right of Passage" through your airspace and we'll do the rest.

[browardchad]

A female security guard -- nice touch.

[Nam Vet]

Another Turk! Hi Bud. Thanks for the report. a_Turk's a great contributor. Glad to meet ya. May God be with Turkey and protect her citizens from these animals.

Nam Vet

[Cindy]

Hello Turk2. My husband was in the 82nd Airborne. In 1965 he was in Turkey. He said the people were very friendly to him.

I appreciate Turkey helping out the United States and not bowing to the terrorist's threats.

[knighthawk]

Was away for a few days. I am glad they didn't do anything anywhere.