AP: 7 get life in '03 Istanbul bombings

[Eugene]

7 get life in '03 Istanbul bombings

By BENJAMIN HARVEY, Associated Press Writer

32 minutes ago

ISTANBUL, Turkey - A Turkish court on Friday sentenced seven suspected al-Qaida
militants to life in prison for a pair of 2003 suicide bombings in Istanbul that killed
58 people — attacks prosecutors said were ordered by Osama bin Laden.

The defendants, including Syrian Loa'i Mohammad Haj Bakr al-Saqa, were among 74
suspects standing trial in the attacks, which targeted two synagogues, the British
consulate and a London-based bank.

The court acquitted 26 of the defendants, while sentencing the rest to prison terms
ranging from three years and nine months to 18 years.

Al-Saqa, who was charged with masterminding the bombings, called on holy warriors
to keep up their fight, declaring during final arguments Friday that "Victory is very near!"

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Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070216/ap_on_re_mi_ea/turkey_al_qaida_trial