On Thursday, the Turkish police detained 115 suspects belonging to the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) following raids conducted in Istanbul, targeting plans for attacks during the Christmas and New Year holidays. The chief prosecutor in Istanbul issued arrest warrants for 137 suspects, and the raids took place at 124 addresses. Authorities confiscated weapons, ammunition, and organizational documents.
A previous warning from the gendarmerie in Ankara mentioned possible simultaneous attacks in major cities, targeting shopping centers and public squares. Additionally, a recent investigation led to the discovery of a financing network for IS, which provided financial support to group members and their families from conflict areas in Syria. IS has previously carried out devastating attacks in Turkey, including suicide bombings that resulted in significant loss of human life.
Sources