Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Two Swiss residents linked to terrorism

Michael Wiget
Monday 19 January 2004 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Swiss authorities are investigating two people suspected of being linked to a string of deadly terrorist attacks in Turkey last November.

Two Swiss-resident foreign citizens were the target of the inquiry, said Hansjuerg Mark Wiedmer, a spokesman for the Federal Prosecutor's Office. He refused to identify them further. Mr Wiedmer also declined to comment on a report in the weekly NZZ am Sonntag, which claimed that the pair were Turkish citizens who had sought asylum in Switzerland and were leading members of a Turkish militant group known as the Islamic Great Eastern Raiders' Front.

The Front has claimed responsibility for the Istanbul suicide truck bombings jointly with Osama bin Laden's al-Qa'ida network, but Turkish authorities do not believe the organisation was involved.

Sixty-two people died and about 700 were injured in the four truck bombings in Istanbul. The attackers struck two synagogues on 15 November, and the British Consulate and the HSBC Bank five days later.

On 8 January Swiss police detained eight purported supporters of al-Qa'ida, holding them on suspicion of providing logistical support to a criminal organisation because of alleged links to attackers who bombed Western residential compounds in Saudi Arabia last year.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in