No suicide bomb collaborator yet found

ANKARA

Turkish police forensic experts inspect the site after an explosion at the entrance of the U.S. Embassy in Ankara February 1, 2013. REUTERS photo

Ankara police interrogated 12 eyewitnesses on Jan. 4, as part of the ongoing investigation concerning the suicide bomb attack on the U.S. Embassy in the Turkish capital on Jan. 1.

Before the attack, the suicide bomber asked one of those questioned the direction to Paris Street, where the U.S. Embassy is located, Anatolia news agency reported.

Scanning all recordings of the cameras of the Mobile Electronic System Integration Center (MOBESE), as well as private security cameras, the police were unable to find anyone who collaborated with the bomber, Ecevit Şanlı. The police also could not find any sign that the bomber surveyed the area around the embassy before the attack, while security officials, speaking to Anatolia on condition of anonymity, denied claims suggesting that there was a loss of images in the MOBESE recordings.

Şanlı was holding an envelope and pretended to have brought a cargo to the Embassy, detonating the bomb on his body before late security guard Mustafa Akarsu was able to prevent him.

According to the preliminary results of Forensic Medicine’s investigation, no traces of drugs were found in Şanlı’s blood.

Suicide bomber’s family questioned by police

Relatives of the suicide bomber who attacked the U.S. Embassy in Ankara were interrogated Jan. 4 by the police as part of the investigation into the Feb. 1 attack.

Upon instructions from Ankara prosecutor Mustafa Bilgili, police questioned Ecevit Şanlı’s relatives who appeared at the Ankara Forensic Institution to claim his body, Anatolia news agency reported. Many relatives of Şanlı are living abroad, the Anatolia said.

Meanwhile, an examination of the TNT explosives and hand grenade that were used in the attack as well as the gun found on Şanlı’s body is under way, according to Anatolia news agency. Police will submit a report to the prosecutor after the examination.