Turkey Arrests 15 in Al-Qaeda Plot to Attack US Embassy

Turkish police have arrested 15 suspected Al Qaeda militants after evidence of a plotted attack on the United States Embassy in Ankara, the Anatolian News Agency has reported.

The suspicions aroused after anti-terror police detained a suspected Al-Qaeda militant on Tuesday who was preparing for attacks on foreign mission, which included the US Embassy.

According to a police reports an inspection of the suspects house found him in possession of 1,500 pounds of chemicals that are used in bomb making, along with two assault rifles, bullets, documents, sketches and maps.

Following the raid security forces widened their search to the Yalova and Bursa districts where they detained a further 14 suspects. Judicial proceedings against the suspects continue.

Al-Qaeda supporters have been a prime target of Turkish security forces after a series of suicide bombings in the country's biggest city, Istanbul in November 2003, in which the terrorist organization was held responsible for the attacks, in which explosive-laden trucks hit first two synagogues, and then the British consulate and a British bank, killing a total of 63 people, including the British consul.

U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner told reporters he had no information about the threat to the embassy, but said the State Department is in touch with Turkish officials, the Anatolian News Agency has reported.

In 2010 Turkey suffered 40 terror attacks resulting in 22 deaths, according to the National Counter-Terrorism Center.