Ten Suspected Al-Qaeda Militants Detained In Turkey

(RFE/RL) December 9, 2006 -- Reports say Turkish police have detained 10 people with suspected links to Al-Qaeda and a Turkish radical Islamist group who were allegedly preparing bomb attacks.

Local news reports say the suspects were detained in simultaneous raids in Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir in recent days. CNN Turk reports that one of those being held, a 25-year-old lawyer, claimed to be the leader of Al-Qaeda in Turkey.

Police could not confirm the reports.

Turkey has suffered several attacks blamed on Al-Qaeda. Three years ago some 60 people were killed in a series of terrorist bombings in Istanbul.

(compiled from agency reports)