Turkish security forces captured two suspects accused of being members of Al Qaeda’s Türkiye branch during an operation in Istanbul’s Avcılar district. The suspects, brothers L.B. (45) and S.B. (51), had been on the run since 2018 and were detained in the basement of a five-story building.

According to Istanbul Police, the suspects were sentenced in absentia in 2018 for “Being Members of an Armed Terrorist Organization,” with L.B. receiving a 9.5-year sentence and S.B. 7.5 years. Both were taken to the Counter-Terrorism Branch for questioning, where their communication and involvement in training camps are under investigation.

Following their interrogations, the brothers were brought before a judge and subsequently arrested.

Sadık Kahraman