2 suspected al-Qaeda members captured in Istanbul, Türkiye

Two suspects accused of being members of an al-Qaeda network based in Türkiye were arrested during an operation in Istanbul.

The suspects, wanted since 2018, were apprehended by the Istanbul Police Department’s Counterterrorism Unit in the Avcilar district.

According to the Turkish daily Hurriyet‘s report, security forces identified the location of the suspects, L.B. (45) and S.B. (51), in the basement of a five-story building in Avcilar district.

On Jan. 21, police raided the address and detained the two brothers. Both are registered as residents of Batman province.

The suspects were taken to the Counterterrorism Unit for questioning, where their communication records and connections were analyzed.

Investigators are examining digital evidence to determine whether they were involved in any terrorist activities or had ties to rural training camps associated with al-Qaeda.

Suspects were previously convicted of being members of al-Qaeda

Both suspects had prior convictions for “Membership in an Armed Terrorist Organization.”

L.B. was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison, including seven-and-a-half years for membership in al-Qaeda, while S.B. had a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

After their interrogation, L.B. and S.B. appeared before a judge on Wednesday. The court ordered their detention, and they were transferred to Metris prison.