Two U.S. officials said security personnel prevented an assassination attempt on President Barack Obama in Turkey. A Syrian man was arrested last week, CNN reports.
As President Obama wraps up his visit to Turkey, news about a plot to assassinate the U.S. leader is coming to light. U.S. officials told CNN a Syrian man has been arrested after Turkish security services discovered he planned to assassinate Obama.
The man admitted he wanted to get close enough to Obama to stab him. He claims he had three accomplices to help with the plan.
A Saudi paper first reported the news, adding that the suspect was carrying an Al-Jazeera TV press credential. The suspect was arrested on Friday while Obama spoke in Strasbourg, France.
Due to the alleged plot, U.S. and international journalists covering Obama’s trips faced more extensive searches of their baggage by U.S. Secret Service agents. Obama’s Turkey itinerary didn’t change because of the arrest.
U.S. officials stress that they are still verifying all the information provided to them.
