13 Qaida Suspects Arrested in Turkish Raids

Police have detained 13 people during a series of raids in southeastern Turkey over their suspected ties to the al-Qaida network, Anatolia news agency reported on Monday.

Police arrested the suspects during simultaneous raids at 15 different addresses in southeastern Anatolian province of Gaziantep, Anatolia said.

Turkish security forces have regularly targeted suspected al-Qaida supporters since twin suicide bombings hit Istanbul five days apart in November 2003.

A Turkish cell of al-Qaida was held responsible for the attacks, in which explosive-laden trucks first targeted two synagogues, and then the British consulate and a British bank, killing a total of 63 people, including the British consul.

Seven men were jailed for life in 2007 over the bombings, among them a Syrian national who masterminded and financed the attacks.