Key al-Qaida suspect goes on trial in Turkey

Police intensified security around a prison and court in Istanbul today amid reports of an alleged al- Qaida plot to kidnap an Islamic militant.

The militant is accused of being the mastermind behind suicide bombings in Istanbul in 2003 that killed 58 people.

A report in Sabah newspaper last week claimed US intelligence officials had warned Turkish authorities of an al-Qaida plan to rescue Loa’I Mohammad Haj Bakr al-Saqa of Syria while being taken to court for his trial.

Turkish authorities have neither confirmed nor denied the report.

Sharpshooters stood guard on the top of buildings near the court in central Istanbul as a police helicopter hovered above. Police trucks and armoured personnel carriers guarded a road leading to the court.

Prosecutors have demanded life imprisonment for al-Saqa, 32, who is charged with masterminding the attacks and with giving Turkish militants about £85,000 (€126,700) to carry them out.

Prosecutors said Osama bin Laden had personally ordered al-Saqa to carry out the attacks.

Al-Saqa is among 72 suspected al-Qaida militants on trial for alleged involvement in suicide bombings on November 15 and November 20, 2003.