Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Saturday Morning News
Man in Turkey in Custody Suspected to be Involved in Terrorist Attacks
Aired November 29, 2003 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: And we begin this hour in Turkey, and what appears to be a significant development in the war on terrorism in that country. Turkish officials have in custody a man believed to have played a key role in the bombing earlier this month in one of two synagogues in Istanbul.
CNN's Mike Boettcher joins us with the very latest information. He is live there. Good day to you, Mike. What can you tell us at this hour?
MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sean, the arrest occurred on Tuesday, when this suspect tried to cross the border from Turkey into Iran, using false identification. He had a false passport. It wasn't learned about until this morning, when Turkish reporters heard on police scanners that Istanbul police were gathering at the Beth Israel Synagogue, which is one of the locations bombed on November 15.
When reporters arrived there, they saw this man in handcuffs. He had a slight beard, he appeared to be in his 30s, and he was surrounded by police.
Now, later the Istanbul deputy police chief revealed that this man ordered the attack on the Beth Israel Synagogue, saying he confessed. The man, according to officials here, said he did reconnaissance on the synagogue, brought the suicide bomber to the site, then ordered him to attack.
Now, a total of 20 people have been arrested for the four attacks that occurred on November 15 and November 20 here in Istanbul that killed more than 50 people and injured more than 700 people.
Most of those arrested are believed to be members of two groups, Beayyat al-Imam, and also a group called Turkish Hezbollah, radical Islamic groups with ties to organizations in Iraq, for instance, Ansar al-Islam, which is led by a man named Abu Mus'ah al-Zarquawi, who is said to have close affiliations with Osama bin Laden.
So police here hope that this arrest will help them make the link to find out who indeed ordered all of these attacks that still rock Turkey, Sean.
CALLEBS: Well, Mike, it has to be good news for the U.S. and its allies, Turkey apparently very aggressive in investigating and arresting individuals apparently connected with these bombings. You mentioned 20 people. What is the word from the U.S.? Are they pleased with how rapid these investigations have been proceeding?
BOETTCHER: Well, they're very pleased with the quickness of the investigation. They're incredibly pleased with the fact that they were able to get this man before he crossed over the border into Iran. They believe if they wouldn't have done that, he would have disappeared from sight. And some of the key information they need to solve this case, find out who ordered it, would have been lost if he would have crossed, Sean.
CALLEBS: OK, Mike Boettcher, joining us from Istanbul. Thanks again, Mike.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Terrorist Attacks>
Aired November 29, 2003 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: And we begin this hour in Turkey, and what appears to be a significant development in the war on terrorism in that country. Turkish officials have in custody a man believed to have played a key role in the bombing earlier this month in one of two synagogues in Istanbul.
CNN's Mike Boettcher joins us with the very latest information. He is live there. Good day to you, Mike. What can you tell us at this hour?
MIKE BOETTCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sean, the arrest occurred on Tuesday, when this suspect tried to cross the border from Turkey into Iran, using false identification. He had a false passport. It wasn't learned about until this morning, when Turkish reporters heard on police scanners that Istanbul police were gathering at the Beth Israel Synagogue, which is one of the locations bombed on November 15.
When reporters arrived there, they saw this man in handcuffs. He had a slight beard, he appeared to be in his 30s, and he was surrounded by police.
Now, later the Istanbul deputy police chief revealed that this man ordered the attack on the Beth Israel Synagogue, saying he confessed. The man, according to officials here, said he did reconnaissance on the synagogue, brought the suicide bomber to the site, then ordered him to attack.
Now, a total of 20 people have been arrested for the four attacks that occurred on November 15 and November 20 here in Istanbul that killed more than 50 people and injured more than 700 people.
Most of those arrested are believed to be members of two groups, Beayyat al-Imam, and also a group called Turkish Hezbollah, radical Islamic groups with ties to organizations in Iraq, for instance, Ansar al-Islam, which is led by a man named Abu Mus'ah al-Zarquawi, who is said to have close affiliations with Osama bin Laden.
So police here hope that this arrest will help them make the link to find out who indeed ordered all of these attacks that still rock Turkey, Sean.
CALLEBS: Well, Mike, it has to be good news for the U.S. and its allies, Turkey apparently very aggressive in investigating and arresting individuals apparently connected with these bombings. You mentioned 20 people. What is the word from the U.S.? Are they pleased with how rapid these investigations have been proceeding?
BOETTCHER: Well, they're very pleased with the quickness of the investigation. They're incredibly pleased with the fact that they were able to get this man before he crossed over the border into Iran. They believe if they wouldn't have done that, he would have disappeared from sight. And some of the key information they need to solve this case, find out who ordered it, would have been lost if he would have crossed, Sean.
CALLEBS: OK, Mike Boettcher, joining us from Istanbul. Thanks again, Mike.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Terrorist Attacks>
