Turkish militant group suspect arrested

Sinan B., 35, stands accused of belonging to the leadership of the Turkish left-wing extremist organisation DHKP-C.

A German citizen of Turkish descent has been arrested on suspicion of carrying out firebombings for a far-left group and trying to "liquidate" rivals, federal prosecutors said Monday.

After six years on the run, the suspect identified only as Sinan B. turned himself in, the federal prosecutor's office in the southwestern German city of Karlsruhe said.

Sinan B., 35, stands accused of belonging to the leadership of the Turkish left-wing extremist organisation DHKP-C in the 1990s and participating in attacks carried out in western Germany.

- Sinan B. is believed to have helped mount two firebombings against Turkish banks, in Duisburg on March 21, 1995, and in Cologne on April 14, 1995 - the office said in a statement.

- In addition, he is strongly suspected of belonging to the commando in 1997 that aimed to track down and liquidate activists of the Yagan wing of Devrimci Sol in Hamburg - a rival militant group.

The arrest warrant for Sinan B., including charges of membership of a terrorist organisation, attempted arson and conspiracy to commit homicide, dates from August 2003.

It was not immediately clear why he turned himself in this month.

DHKP-C, or the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front, has waged an armed struggle against the Turkish state since 1976 and is listed as a terrorist organisation by Ankara, the European Union and the United States.

Turkish authorities say it has killed dozens including two retired generals, a former justice minister and a prominent businessman.

It is accused of recruiting members from poor districts of major cities for suicide attacks and has been banned in Germany, which has a large Turkish minority, since 1998.

It announced the next year it would cease attacks on German soil.