ANKARA — Turkey has captured an Al Qaida cell that intended to
attack Israeli cruise ships in the eastern Mediterranean. It's leader, a Syrian, had changed his appearance with plastic surgery to avoid detection.
Turkish security sources said a senior Al Qaida operative led the
10-member cell in Turkey, based in the southern province of Antalya. The
sources said the Al Qaida cell had tracked and targeted up to four Israeli
cruise ships meant to dock in Antalya last week.
The leader and his deputy were captured in southeastern Turkey on Aug.
7. On Thursday, the Syrian, identified as Liua Sakra, confessed in an
Istanbul court to planning to attack Israeli cruise ships.
"I have no regrets," Sakra shouted in the courtroom.
Sakra was termed an expert in explosives. His suspected courier, also a
Syrian, was identified as Hamed Obysi.
The sources said Sakra had undergone plastic surgery to avoid
identification. They said he was arrested as he attempted to board a flight
and later transferred to Istanbul for interrogation.
"The Syrian headed the cell and was responsible for gathering
intelligence and planning attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets in Antalya,"
a security source said. "He is in custody."
Sakra has been linked to two Al Qaida suicide strikes against British
and Jewish targets in Istanbul in November 2003, the sources said. They said
Sakra was believed to have helped assemble the huge car bombs that destroyed
synagogues and banks in the Turkish city.
So far, 10 suspected members of the Al Qaida cell have been arrested.
The sources said they believe other suspects were at large.
On Aug. 8, Israel warned its nationals to avoid Antalya. Israel ordered
four Israeli cruise ships meant to dock in Antalya to head for the Republic
of Cyprus.
Turkey's NTV news channel reported on Wednesday that the Syrian suspect
was carrying forged identity documents. The television said he was accused
of collecting intelligence on Israeli cruise ships as well as synagogues in
Turkey.
