Turkish intelligence 'captures bombing suspect in Syria' Published duration 12 September 2018 Related Topics Syrian civil war

image copyright AFP image caption Turkish media broadcast "confession" by a man identified as Yusuf Nazik

A Turkish intelligence agency has captured in Syria the chief suspect in the 2013 twin bomb attack in the border town of Reyhanli, Turkish media report.

State-run Anadolu news agency said the National Intelligence Organisation had apprehended Yusuf Nazik, a Turkish citizen, in the port city of Latakia.

The Turkish and Syrian governments are fighting on opposing sides in Syria's civil war, with Ankara backing rebel forces trying to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

Anadolu said National Intelligence Organisation agents had brought Mr Nazik to Turkey after capturing him in Latakia - a stronghold of the Syrian government - in a "carefully planned and executed operation" that involved "no intelligence or logistical support from a foreign state".

During questioning, the 34-year-old from the city of Antakya had confessed that in 2013, after receiving a "tip-off from Syrian intelligence units, he scouted the crime scene prior to the attack and moved explosives from Syria to Turkey", the agency added.

image copyright AFP image caption The car bomb attacks in Reyhanli on 11 May 2013 killed 53 people

He then procured two vehicles to move the explosives, according to Anadolu.

He also warned Syria's government that Turkey would "make you pay eventually".

There was no immediate response from Syrian officials.