Loai Mohammad Haj Bakr al-Saqa () is a Syrian member of

al-Qaeda , image = Flag of Jihad.svg , caption = Jihadist flag, Flag used by various al-Qaeda factions , founder = Osama bin Laden{{Assassinated, Killing of Osama bin Laden , leaders = {{Plainlist, * Osama bin Lad ...

, convicted of masterminding and financing the 2003 Istanbul bombings. In February 2007, he was sentenced to 67 life sentences by the Turkish courts. He was arrested in August 2005, while allegedly planning a bomb attack against an

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

cruise ship Cruise ships are large passenger ships used mainly for vacationing. Unlike ocean liners, which are used for transport, cruise ships typically embark on round-trip voyages to various ports of call, where passengers may go on Tourism, tours k ...

. He was accused of supplying Turkish militants $170,000 to perform the bombing. Unlike some of the six Turkish men also given life sentences for the attacks, al-Saqa maintained his innocence throughout the trial. Al-Saqa's lawyer was banned from the court for "aiding and abetting al-Qaeda", and al-Saqa was twice thrown out of the court himself, once at his first court appearance in March 2006 for refusing to stand and identify himself to the judge and again two months later for wearing an orange jumpsuit similar to those worn by prisoners in Guantanamo Bay. During his trial, al-Saqa was questioned by prosecutor Huseyin Canan about the beheading of British engineer Kenneth Bigley in

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

.Suspect Quizzed On Bigley Beheading , Sky News, World News
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References

Syrian al-Qaeda members Living people Year of birth missing (living people) {{Crime-bio-stub