Top terrorist behind 2013 Reyhanlı bombing arrested by Turkish intelligence PHOTO

In a major counterterrorism operation, Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has captured Temir Dukanci, a key suspect linked to the devastating Reyhanlı bombings of 2013, which claimed the lives of 53 people.

Dukanci, a Syrian national with ties to Syrian intelligence, was apprehended in a cross-border operation on the Syria-Lebanon border, marking a significant step in Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to bring those responsible for terrorist attacks to justice, Caliber.Az reports citing Turkish media.

MİT officials had been tracking Dukanci for several years, uncovering his involvement in the transportation of explosives used in the Reyhanlı bombings. Dukanci had provided vehicles to facilitate the delivery of explosives into Türkiye via sea routes, playing a central role in the orchestrated attack.

The intelligence operation intensified after MİT discovered Dukanci's plans to flee Syria and seek refuge in Lebanon. Dukanci, who is listed on Türkiye's "orange category" of the colour-coded wanted list, was reportedly looking to acquire a fake passport and was in the process of organizing an attack targeting Turkish representatives abroad, with members of a terrorist group he was assembling.

The operation was launched once MİT confirmed Dukanci's exact whereabouts. The terrorist, under constant surveillance, was subsequently captured and transported to Türkiye. He was handed over to the Hatay Provincial Police Department for further interrogation.

This operation follows a series of successful captures by MİT, including the detention of key figures behind the 2018 Yusuf Nazik attack and the Mohammed Dib Korali attack in Syria in early January 2025. MİT's continuous efforts to neutralize terrorist threats have been a critical component of Türkiye's security strategy, ensuring accountability for those behind high-profile attacks.

The 2013 Reyhanlı car bombings occurred on May 11, 2013, when two car bombs detonated in the Turkish town of Reyhanlı, located just 5 kilometers from the Syrian border in Hatay Province. With a population of 64,000, Reyhanlı is situated near one of the busiest land border crossings between Türkiye and Syria. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of at least 53 lives, while 140 others were wounded.  

By Vafa Guliyeva