Istanbul - Shul Bomber Accused In Court

Istanbul - The trial of a Syrian man, Bomb-making expert Louai al Sakka, accused of
masterminding, financing and planning the deadly double shul bombings in Istanbul in November 2003 which claimed the lives of 25 people, and more than 300 people were injured, began in Turkey today.

He is also accused of responsibility for the deaths of 33 people in the HSBC bank and British Consulate explosions in the city five days later.

He was ordered to leave the courtroom today after he refused to stand to begin his defence. He shouted across the courtroom: “It is against my beliefs to stand for people like you. I carried out jihad. I killed Americans. Am I going to stand up for people like you?”