Turkish police capture al-Qaida members

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TEKIRDAG, Turkey, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Eleven al-Qaida militants were captured in western Turkey and about 48 pounds of explosive material was seized in a series of raids, police said.

The Tekirdag Police Department said the militants reportedly were planning attacks on targets in Istanbul, including the U.S. Consulate, a synagogue and a church, Today's Zaman reported Thursday.

Police said they conducted the raids Wednesday on nine houses in Tekirdag and two houses in Istanbul after learning suspected al-Qaida members in those two cities had acquired the explosives.

Along with the suspects and A4 explosives, police seized five rifles, five handguns and maps marking the locations of the consulate and the two religious facilities, Today's Zaman said.

Tekirdag police said they had been tracking a suspected al-Qaida member for two years.