Turkey foils Al Qaeda plot against U.S. Embassy in Ankara, uncovers bomb-making chemicals, rifles

BY Larry Mcshane

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Turkish soldiers in Ankara, the city where Al Qaeda planned to target the U.S. Embassy.

Mustafa Ozer/Getty

Turkish soldiers in Ankara, the city where Al Qaeda planned to target the U.S. Embassy.

Fifteen Al Qaeda terrorists were nabbed and 1,500 pounds of bomb-making chemicals seized as Turkish officials foiled a purported plot against the U.S. Embassy in Ankara.

The sweep nabbed conspirators in three cities, along with the chemicals, two assault rifles, ammunition and maps of the Turkish capital, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.

The 15 were transported to police headquarters in Ankara for questioning by anti-terror specialists, according to Anatolia.

Police made their move on the suspects after a key figure was arrested earlier this week following six months of surveillance, Anatolia said.

The suspect reportedly received arms and explosives training at a two-story house in the outskirts of Ankara.

“We’ve obviously seen the press reports,” said U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner. “I’m aware that our embassy is in touch … with Turkish authorities about these arrests.”

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via Turkey foils Al Qaeda plot against U.S. Embassy in Ankara, uncovers bomb-making chemicals, rifles.