Turkey arrests top suspect in Syria border blasts

PanARMENIAN.Net - The top suspect of the twin bombings that killed 52 people and injured dozens on May 11 has been detained by security officers in Hatay on the night of June 10, in the Yayladağı district of Hatay’s Güveççi village, only 300 meters from the Syrian border, Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Nasır Eskiocak, labeled by the Interior Minister Muammer Güler as the “the main actor of the event, its financier, planner, supporter; the person that paid for the bombs to be delivered,” was captured by a joint operation performed by Hatay Yayladağı district’s border battalion and the Hatay police.

The operation was launched after security forces received information regarding Eskiocak’s planned entrance into Syrian territory, resulting in the capturing of Eskiocak and three others, accused of aiding and abetting him. All four suspects were taken to Hatay Police Department by armored vehicles for questioning.

18 suspects in total have been detained at different times over charges related to the 300 kilos of explosive material placed in two vans that went off at Reyhanlı on May 11, with six suspects subsequently released and 12 arrested.

The Hatay Governor’s office confirmed Eskiocak’s detainment, describing the operation which led to his capture as “precise and intense.” Eskiocak’s registration within the town records was also confirmed by the governor’s office.