Turkey detains 23 in anti-al Qaeda swoop-media

ISTANBUL, June 20 (Reuters) Turkish police have detained 23 people suspected of being linked to Islamic militant group al Qaeda, private broadcaster CNN Turk reported today.

Police could not immediately be reached to comment on the report, which said the detentions were made in the northwestern province of Bursa.

Turkey has been targeted by attacks claimed by al Qaeda in the past, including the 2003 bombing of the British Consulate and HSBC bank in Istanbul. Since then operations against militants in mainly Muslim but secular Turkey have been common.

Reuters AK VV1634