Leaked memo warns of terror attacks in Turkey

A police intelligence document leaked today to private security departments warned that militants have infiltrated Turkey to organise new terror attacks.

It said they could target United States, Israeli or Western interests or Istanbul’s most popular shopping mall over Christmas.

Istanbul police chief Celalettin Cerrah said in a statement that the leaked material was an internal intelligence document aimed at “preventing possible attacks and warning (police) units to be vigilant and to be more sensitive”.

He said the document was erroneously sent to the security departments of several private companies adding that the police officer responsible has been reassigned.

The warnings follow suicide bombings in November in Istanbul that targeted two synagogues, the British Consulate and the HSBC bank, leaving 62 people dead, including the suicide bombers.

The leaked document warned of possible attacks against US and Israeli targets as well as the interests of Western countries and the popular Akmerkez shopping mall.

The document, dated December 22, was being circulated today through e-mail by staff of companies notified of the threat.

“It is being detected that the preparations for a large-scale third wave of attacks to follow up the suicide bombings has been completed,” said the document signed by two senior police officials, including the head of the Istanbul security department.

“Some of those who will carry out the attacks entered Turkey from Syria, and the others were preparing to enter,” it said.

The document said that Habip Aktas, a key suspect in the November bombings, was among those planning the new attacks.

Captured militants have identified Aktas as the head of the al Qaida terror network in Turkey.