Opposition Deputy Questions "Missing" Syrian Cars

Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Sezgin Tanrıkulu has asked the government about the whereabouts of some 6,000 Syrian cars which allegedly disappeared in Turkey, citing claims they could be used for bomb attacks.

In a written question to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, the CHP deputy suggested 14,293 Syrian license plates were registered at the Customs and Trade Ministry, but the number recorded by the Security General Directorate was 8,090, leaving some 6,000 cars unaccounted for.

"6,203 vehicles have evaporated in the records," Tanrıkulu said, asking why they were not registered and inquiring about allegations the missing cars were in the hands of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), with the possibility they could be used for bomb attacks in Turkey.

In an apparent bid to deflect criticisms of not doing enough to halt the flow of jihadists across its border with Syria, Turkish authorities have arrested a number of suspected ISIL militants in recent months.

Turkish security forces detained 45 foreign nationals seeking to cross into Syria to join ISIL from the southeastern city of Gaziantep over a three-day period, the Doğan News Agency reported on July 12. The detentions came after the arrest of 21 suspected members of the group in Istanbul and elsewhere on July 10. - Ankara