Suspect questioned over Bigley beheading

A Turkish prosecutor, in the presence of British police officials, today questioned a suspected al-Qaida militant over the decapitation of British engineer Kenneth Bigley in Iraq, the state-run Anatolia news agency has reported.

Loa’i Mohammed Haj Bakr al-Saqa – a Syrian who is on trial in Istanbul accused of masterminding a series of suicide bombings in the city – allegedly presided over an informal court that sentenced Bigley to death in Iraq in accordance with Islamic sharia law, his former lawyer, Osman Karahan, claimed back in April.

The 62-year-old Briton was kidnapped September 16, 2004, with two American co-workers for Gulf Services. All three were beheaded. Bigley’s death was confirmed on October 10, 2004, but his body has never been found.

Anatolia said al-Saqa was interrogated for 1 1/2 hours by Turkish prosecutor Huseyin Canan in the north-western city of Kocaeli. A diplomat from the British Embassy, two British police officials, interpreters and a lawyer representing the Syrian were present, the agency reported.

During questioning, Al-Saqa reportedly told Canan that an unnamed television station based in the United Arab Emirates had footage of Bigley’s beheading, which may hold answers to his murder, Anatolia reported.

Anatolia said the British officers presented written questions for al-Saqa to answer, but gave no other details.

Al-Saqa’s lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment.

More than 70 suspected al Qaida militants – including al-Saqa – are on trial in Istanbul for alleged involvement in a series of suicide bombings that killed 58 people in the city in 2003.