Man arrested over Turkish bomb plot

12 April 2012

An alleged Kurdish rebel is being held by Turkish police amid claims that he was planning a fresh bombing campaign after a weekend of explosions which killed three people.

Scores of people - including 10 Britons - were injured in a series of bombings across the country. A militant group known as the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons has claimed responsibility for the three main attacks.

Meanwhile the UK's emergency response to the Turkish holiday resort bombings was being scaled down with all Britons thought to be accounted for.

But the Foreign Office continued to warn of a "high threat from terrorism" in the country as a militant group claimed responsibility for the attacks, with a chilling vow to "turn Turkey into hell".

Ten British people and 11 Turks were injured in a blast in the Aegean coastal resort of Marmaris on Sunday.

On Monday a separate bomb killed three people and injured at least 20 in the Mediterranean resort of Antalya and earlier six people were hurt in a blast in the suburb of Bagcilar in the European side of Istanbul.

The Foreign Office (FCO) confirmed that eight Britons injured in the Marmaris bombing remained in hospital. Two others have already been flown home.

Five people travelling with tour operator Thomas Cook were among the injured Britons. A spokeswoman said: "They are still in hospital being looked after and won't be released until they are fit to fly home."

The Foreign Office said it had now closed a hotline for worried relatives as normal consular service resumed. A rapid deployment team of six Foreign Office officials, two Red Cross officers, a doctor and a nurse remained in Turkey.

The FCO's website warns travellers: "We believe that international terrorist groups, as well as indigenous ones, are currently active in Turkey. Further attacks, including in tourist areas, could well occur."

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