The 2003 Istanbul bombings provide the strongest implication of ties between IBDA-C and al-Qaeda , although the exact nature of their cooperation remains unclear . Al-Qaeda may have acted merely as an outside support base , or possibly in tandem with IBDA-C in terms of planning and execution . Some , on the other hand , assert that IBDA-C had no involvement at all ; contradicting reports from the Turkish media solely credit al-Qaeda with the attacks , implying that IBDA-C did not have the means to carry out such a sophisticated act of terrorism . Indeed , IBDA-C showed no willingness to exercise suicide terrorism prior to November 2003 . Regardless of whether or not IBDA-C actively participated in these particular attacks , the attention received provided the group with a heightened level of international infamy , as they were previously not well known at the global level
2003 Istanbul bombings
2003 Istanbul bombings
Great Eastern Islamic Raiders' Front