Imam of a town in Turkey turns out to be a fugitive Al-Qaeda member

A fugitive suspect of the suicide bomb attacks in İstanbul in 2003 has been caught and arrested in a village of Ilgaz district of Çankırı province.

Suspect Z.Ç., who had been on the list of wanted suspects having connection to the deadly bomb attacks of 2003, was found out to be serving as a substitute imam in Alıç village in Çankırı.

Z.Ç. had previously been arrested with charges of involvement in the planning of the attack but was released. Having gone to Afghanistan afterwards, Z.Ç. was then deported from there and came back to İstanbul.

Upon intelligence received regarding his re-entry to Turkey, prosecutors had filed a case against him with accusations of ‘membership to Al Qaeda’.

According to the latest reports, Z.Ç. was recently caught in the Alıç village and taken to courthouse this morning (April 19), where he admitted to his crime. Court sentenced him with 6 years and 3 months jail time.

Source: https://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/el-kaide-uyesi-cankiri-da-imamlik-yaparken-yakalandi-156110.html