Nine charged, Britain warns of more Turkey terror attacks

Prime Minister Erdogan plays down Islam-terrorism connection

Hundreds of people pray in Istanbul’s Blue Mosque on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, yesterday. Morning sermons in mosques around the country carried an anti-terrorism message at the start of the three-day religious holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

By Ayla Jean Yackley - Reuters

ISTANBUL - A Turkish court charged nine people yesterday with involvement in suicide bombings on British targets that killed dozens of people, as Britain warned more attacks in Turkey could be imminent.

The suspects were charged with “belonging to, aiding and abetting an illegal organization” in the early hours yesterday after a lengthy questioning, the Anatolia news agency said.

As fear of further violence lingered, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul acknowledged the “sorrowful” start to the Eid al-Fitr Muslim holiday that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, but voiced defiance.

“The terrorists were puppets, but there are puppeteers and we will struggle against them,” he told reporters, adding that the attacks would not steer Turkey off its path to greater human and political rights as its seeks to join the European Union.

“We won’t make the same mistakes as other countries, Turkey will not decrease individual freedom,” he told reporters.

Groups apparently linked to Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network have claimed responsibility for the November 20 attacks, but Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said an Al Qaeda link with the Turkish bombers has not yet been proved.

Erdogan, whose party’s grassroots are among religious conservatives, said it was wrong to link terrorism with Islam.

“It seems to me that those who link our holy beliefs to terrorism are gaining ground even among our people, very slowly and gradually, like water drops making a hole in stone,” Erdogan said in Istanbul at a traditional holiday breakfast.

“This bothers me. I cannot stand it when I hear the phrase Islamic terrorism,” he said.

The British government said yesterday it had received information that “further attacks may be imminent” in Turkey and advised its citizens not to travel to the country, which lies on the fringes of Europe and the Middle East. “We urge you to be vigilant in all parts of the country, and especially in the vicinity of potential terrorist targets,” the Foreign Office advisory added.