8 detained for involvement in Cilvegozu blast

Police detained eight suspects, including Turks and Syrians, on charges of involvement in the explosion that had occurred at the southern Cilvegozu border gate on February 11. Turkish Interior Minister Muammer Guler stated that four Syrian suspects and a Turkish suspect had been sent to court. Guler said it had been confirmed that the suspects had links to the Syrian intelligence and army. According to a written statement released by the Directorate General of Security, five of those eight suspects were Syrians and the remaining three were Turkish citizens. Moreover, from among those eight suspects, four Syrians and a Turk had been sent to court for arrest. Officials said those eight people had been detained in Turkey's southern province of Hatay and nearby towns. The suspects include people who had got off the motor vehicle that exploded. Officials said police were after one more suspect. The explosion, which had taken place at the Cilvegozu border gate on February 11, killed 14, including four Turks, and wounded 25.