Attacks on Istanbul dailies: 5 remanded in custody

ISTANBUL

Five out of 11 suspects arrested in relation to the February attacks on Istanbul-based newspapers Yeni Safak and Yeni Akit have been remanded in custody, judicial sources said on Saturday.

Two other suspects detained during a police operation on March 1, have been released, the sources said.

On Feb. 11, the Istanbul offices of the Yeni Safak and Yeni Akit dailies were simultaneously attacked by masked assailants who threw Molotov cocktails and fired pump-action shotguns into the walls of the building.

The suspects are allegedly members of The United Freedom Forces (BOG) - a militia that was founded in the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani.

The group reportedly cooperates with Democratic Union Party (PYD) and Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP). Both groups are considered terror organizations by Turkey.

There were no casualties in either attack.