The arrest of Louai Sakra in the south eastern city of Diyarbakir last week served to underline the professionalism and commitment shown by the Turkish police in combating terrorism, the statement said.

”(It) represents a significant success in the global struggle against Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organisations,” the statement read.
Sakra, who is also suspected of being involved to four suicide bombings in Istanbul in November 2003 staged by a group linked to the terrorist network al Qaeda, has claimed he was planning to launch attacks against cruise liners carrying Israeli tourists visiting Turkish ports.

Two of the targets in the November 2003 bombings had direct links to the UK, one being the British consulate in Istanbul and the other the Turkish headquarters of the British based HSBC Bank. More than 60 people were killed and some 700 wounded in the attacks and two against Jewish synagogues in Istanbul.