Turkish authorities say they have disrupted planned attacks on Christmas and New Year events after arresting more than 100 suspected members of the so-called Islamic State group, reports BBC.
Mass raids were carried out at 124 addresses across Istanbul, the capital’s chief prosecutor said, and firearms, ammunition and “organizational documents” were seized.
Officials said IS supporters were actively planning attacks across Turkey this week, particularly against non-Muslims.
The police detained 115 suspects, but efforts are underway to find another 22, according to the official statement.
The prosecution announced that the suspects were in contact with IS operatives outside Turkey.
The announcement comes two days after Turkish intelligence agents raided the group on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
A Turkish national who is said to have played a senior role in the IS wing operating in the region has been detained and charged with planning attacks on civilians.
Turkish security services regularly target people suspected of being linked to IS.
The country shares a 900 km border with Syria, where the group continues to operate in parts of the country.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has close ties to the Turkish government, has vowed to work with the US and Europe to root out surviving IS elements.
The US launched a wave of airstrikes on the group’s positions across Syria on Friday in response to the killing of three Americans.
Two US soldiers and a civilian translator were killed by IS gunmen during an ambush earlier this month.
(TYPE/Source: federalna.ba/BBC/Photo: Illustration/BBC)
