Turkey remands Daesh/ISIS terrorist for aiding bombings

By Esber Ayaydin

SANLIURFA, Turkey (AA) - Turkey remanded in custody a Daesh/ISIS terrorist accused of providing explosives in two deadly bombings in Istanbul and Sanliurfa, security sources said on Friday.

Turkish security and intelligence teams worked jointly to arrest Daesh/ISIS terrorist Azzo Halaf Suleyman Al Aggal on Jan. 12 in the southeastern Sanliurfa province, said security sources speaking on the condition of anonymity.

He was found to be cooperating with another Daesh/ISIS terrorist codenamed Abu Bera – who was in charge of arranging a number of suicide bombings.

Al Aggal was charged with providing explosives in the 2016 Istanbul bombing at the touristic Sultanahmet Square and in the 2015 blast in Suruc, Sanliurfa.

On Jan. 12, 2016, Daesh suicide bomber killed at least 10 German tourists in Sultanahmet district of Istanbul, while injuring sixteen people.

On July 20, 2015, the same terrorist group carried out a suicide bomb attack in Suruc. A total of 34 people were killed and 70 others were seriously injured.

Turkey was one of the first countries to declare Daesh/ISIS as a terror group in 2013.

The country has since been attacked by Daesh/ISIS terrorists multiple times. The terror group has carried out at least 10 suicide bombings, seven bomb attacks, and four armed attacks, killing 315 people and injuring hundreds more.

In response, Turkey launched anti-terror operations at home and abroad to prevent further attacks.

*Writing by Merve Aydogan in Ankara