ISTANBUL, Turkey, March 16 (UPI) -- Istanbul's governor said Tuesday a group of local Muslim militants was behind last week's attack on a Masonic lodge.
Eighteen suspects are in Turkish custody and Istanbul Gov. Muammer Guler said they had confessed to being behind the March 9 attack on the Association of the Grand Temple of Free and Accepted Masons of Turkey.
He said they "were about to carry out new suicide attacks after making plans and carrying out reconnaissance work."
Guler said some of the suspects had received training in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but added there was no known link to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida organization.
Ten of the suspects were to appear in court later Tuesday.
Five people were wounded in last Tuesday's attack. One attacker was killed and another wounded.
