 Turkish police detained 18 people suspected of having links to Al Qaeda late on Wednesday, but IstanbulÂ’s police chief said the move was unconnected to Pope BenedictÂ’s visit to Turkey, NTV television reported. Istanbul police could not confirm the report on Thursday. In an Internet statement on Wednesday, Al Qaeda in Iraq condemned Pope BenedictÂ’s visit, saying it was part of a crusade against Islam aimed at pulling Turkey away from the Muslim world. | But IstanbulÂ’s security chief Celalettin Cerrah was quoted as saying the detentions were unconnected. |
The Pope flew to Istanbul late on Wednesday, the second day of his four-day visit to Turkey, for talks and religious celebrations with Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the worldÂ’s Orthodox Christians. But IstanbulÂ’s security chief Celalettin Cerrah was quoted as saying the detentions were unconnected. Turkey has suffered several attacks blamed on Al Qaeda: in November 2003, more than 60 people were killed in bombings of two synagogues, the British Consulate and HSBCÂ’s office in Istanbul. |