Foreign nationals remanded over Istanbul airport attack

By Melike Gallenkus

ISTANBUL

An Istanbul court has remanded in custody seven foreigners linked to a deadly suicide bombing which killed dozens of people at the city's Ataturk Airport, judicial sources said on Monday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, the sources said three of the accused were from Algeria, two were from Tunisia and the remainder from Egypt.

Sources said that none of the suspects, who were detained late on Sunday, entered a guilty plea.

One Algerian suspect, identified only by the initials F.A.A., reportedly said: "I came to Turkey to pass to other European countries. I never thought to participate in terrorist organizations. I demand my release pending trial."

Forty-five people were killed and more than 200 injured at Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport on June 28 when three suicide bombers, all foreign nationals, opened fire and blew themselves up at the international terminal.

A total of 37 suspects have been held so far in connection with the attack.

*Anadolu Agency correspondent Diyar Guldogan contributed to this report from Ankara.

By Melike Gallenkus

ISTANBUL

An Istanbul court has remanded in custody seven foreigners linked to a deadly suicide bombing which killed dozens of people at the city's Ataturk Airport, judicial sources said on Monday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, the sources said three of the accused were from Algeria, two were from Tunisia and the remainder from Egypt.

Sources said that none of the suspects, who were detained late on Sunday, entered a guilty plea.

A total of 37 suspects have been held so far in connection with the attack.

*Anadolu Agency correspondent Diyar Guldogan contributed to this report from Ankara.