Unrepentant al-Qaida suspect vows victory
Suspected al-Qaida militants charged over the 2003 suicide bombings in Istanbul delivered their final defence in court today.
A key suspect called on supporters to keep up the fight and promised “victory”,
Nine of the 73 suspects – including Syrian Loa’I Mohammad Haj Bakr al-Saqa who is charged with masterminding the bombings – were led into the Istanbul court for what is expected to one of the last hearings in the case.
Mr Al-Saqa made a brief statement, calling on “holy warriors” to keep fighting. “Victory is very near!” he said in Turkish, then chanted in Arabic.
Defendant Mr Seyit Ertul again denied in court any involvement in the bombings.
Prosecutors have demanded life imprisonment for Mr al-Saqa, 32, who is accused of giving Turkish militants about €126,000 to carry out the attacks, and four other defendants believed to be ringleaders in the bombings of two synagogues, the British consulate and a London-based bank on November 15 and November 20, 2003.
Police say some suspects fled the country after the attacks and some reportedly died in Iraq while fighting US forces.
Prosecutors said Osama bin Laden had personally ordered Mr al-Saqa to organise the plot.
