ANKARA, Turkey, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Police armed with arrest warrants for 167 people launched raids across Turkey, targeting the militant group behind the suicide attack on the U.S. Embassy.
Police in Istanbul raided several homes early Tuesday as part of the operation, detaining at least 50 people on charges of belonging to the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front and distributing the group's propaganda, Today's Zaman reported. The number of detainees may increase.
A suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at the entrance of the U.S. Embassy in Ankara Feb. 1, killing himself and a Turkish security guard and wounding a journalist. Soon after the bombing, Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front claimed responsibility for the attack via the Internet.
Police took 33 people into custody suspicion in a raid on the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions headquarters in Ankara. The organization's lawyers said the investigation and arrests were conducted as part of the operation against the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front, and that warrants were issued for several confederation members in other cities.
Today's Zaman said warrants were issued for members of other terror organizations as well.
