Al-Qaida suspects to stand trial for Istanbul bombings

Dozens of suspected members of a Turkish al-Qaida cell were going on trial in Istanbul today accused over a series of suicide bombings in the city that killed 61 people including the British Consul-General.

In an indictment against the 69 accused made public today, Turkish prosecutors allege that Osama bin Laden suggested targets for an attack in Turkey and his al-Qaida network later provided $150,000 (€123,000) to the Islamic militants who carried out the November suicide bombings.