The bombing attack in 2003 targeted those in front of a bank in Levent, İstanbul and killed 27, wounded 450. The Al-Qaeda member who has been sought in connection to the attack since the event has been recently found in a village in Çankırı, Turkey while working as an imam.
After an enquiry obtained by Ilgaz district gendarmerie command in Çankırı, Turkey, the Al-Qaeda member, who was working as an imam, was arrested. After the investigation, it is found that the man was in connection to the bombing attack in İstanbul, but released after the court decision. He went to Afghanistan following his release and became a member of Al-Qaeda.
When the Al-Qaeda member was deported from Afghanistan and entered in Turkey, the attorney general’s office brought legal action due to his membership to Al-Qaeda. After the court decision, he was found while working as an imam and arrested. He confessed that he got into the bombing event in İstanbul and got the prison sentence for 6 years 3 months.
Imams, the worship leader of mosques are appointed by the government. This is an official position regulated by the Religious Affairs Directorate under the Prime Ministry.
2003 coordinated bombings of the Neva Shalom synagogue, the HSBC head office and the British General Consulate in İstanbul killed 57 people and injured nearly 700. One of the suspects and his lawyer were killed in an armed clash with the Syrian army in Aleppo.
