Turkish police searching for car linked to terror attacks

ISTANBUL

Police are searching for a car allegedly laden with explosives to be used in a terrorist act, following information obtained from a suspect detained as part of the Ankara bombing probe, daily Milliyet reported on Feb. 25.

A suspect, nicknamed “Arab Yakut,” was detained in Istanbul on Feb. 23 over allegedly selling three cars for use in attacks in Ankara, Istanbul and Adana. 

After questioning him, police started to search for a fourth car with the license plate “34 HF 3100” and a broken bumper. 

The Security General Directorate has also sent a notice to provincial security directorate offices calling on all forces to search for a car with the license plate “42 PRS 60.” 

The notice said this car was stolen and was being used by two People’s Protection Units (YPG) militants in contact with the Syrian secret service. 

“Arab Yakut” was detained as part of the probe into the Feb. 17 suicide attack at the heart of Ankara, which killed 29 people. It was the second attack to hit the Turkish capital after alleged ISIL militants bombed a large peace rally on Oct. 10, 2015, killing 102 people. 

The suspect “Arab Yakut” is allegedly linked to Kudbettin Onur, a key suspect linked to the Feb. 17 Ankara bombing. 

“Arab Yakut” is accused of preparing vehicles with twin license plates for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). One of these cars was used in an explosion in Istanbul’s Sultanbeyli district in front of a police department building, while a second one exploded on a roadside in Adana with no casualties. The third was used in the Feb. 17 Ankara bombing.