Turkish Police Raid Suspected Al-qaida Cells

A police officer and one or more militants were killed today in raids on suspected al-Qaida hideouts in south-eastern Turkey.

Four officers were wounded as they stormed houses said to belong to a radical Islamist group in the city of Gaziantep around 2am local time (midnight GMT), police said.

Those inside refused to give themselves up and opened fire, it was reported. The state-run Anatolia news agency said two of the wanted group were killed and 18 arrested.

The agency reported a large explosion in the city as the operation continued. Security cordons were set up around the targeted areas, with armored vehicles and ambulances were stationed.

Police found weapons and documents linking the suspects to al-Qaida, according to the website of broadcaster CNN Turk.

Separately, a bomb last night caused damage but no injuries in the southern city of Adana, Anatolia reported.

Turkish police have been conducting raids across the country against suspected al-Qaida cells. In 2003 the group claimed responsibility for suicide bomb attacks against the British consulate, two synagogues and an HSBC bank in Istanbul that killed more than 60 people in total.

Last year, a court sentenced seven people to life in prison for the bombings.