Mass arrests as Türkiye foils terror attacks

Some 115 Islamic State suspects were arrested for planning attacks on non-Muslims on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, according to authorities

Turkish counter-terrorism police have arrested 115 Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) suspects in a series of raids, Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on Thursday.

The suspects were planning attacks during Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, specifically targeting non-Muslims in Türkiye during the holidays, according to the press release.

According to the authorities, 137 warrants were issued, resulting in 115 arrests.

“Pistols, ammunition and many organizational documents were seized” during more than 100 raids across the Istanbul province, the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said.

It added that a counter-terrorism operation is underway in search of the remaining suspects.

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On Monday, Anadolu reported that Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) recently captured a senior IS member in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.

In early December, Turkish authorities arrested 233 individuals suspected of financing or having ties to IS.

Türkiye officially designated the group a terrorist organization in 2013.

Since then, Turkish forces have conducted more than 1,400 operations against IS, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last year.