Istanbul, Dec 01: Syria has handed over to Turkish authorities 22 people suspected of involvement in Turkey's quadruple suicide bombings, authorities said. The suspects allegedly fled turkey following the attacks in November on two synagogues, the British consulate and a British Bank, which occurred within a week of one another and killed 61 people. A paramilitary police statement cited by Turkey's semiofficial news agency Anatolia yesterday said the 22 people included Hilmi Tugluoglu, whom it said was linked to Azat Ekinci, a key suspect in the blasts. News reports have named Ekinci as a key accomplice in the synagogue bombings, saying he used fake identities and cash to buy the pickup trucks containing the bombs. Reports said Ekinci had traveled to Iran, received military and explosives training in Pakistan between 1997-99 and fought in Chechnya.

The statement didn't elaborate about Tugluoglu's alleged involvement. It said Tugluoglu's wife was also brought to Turkey.


The suspects were being questioned, the statement added.
Bureau Report