The prosecutor’s office in Van claimed that the recent operation resulting in the rest of some 25 suspects was aimed at al Qaeda, not the IHH charity. On Jan. 15, 13 of the suspects were referred to court; five of them were released yesterday, four were released pending bail, and the remaining four were detained. Also yesterday, 12 more detainees were referred to court. A Turkish media report said the al Qaeda suspects planned to assassinate US President Barack Obama. Numerous victims of an alleged car bomb attack on Jan. 15 at a checkpoint in the Syrian Carablus district along the Turkish border were hospitalized in Gazientep.
