Turkish authorities have detained 115 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in Istanbul, accusing them of planning attacks targeting Christmas and New Year festivities, according to the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office.
Why It Matters
The arrests come amid heightened security concerns during the festive season in Turkey, a country that has faced multiple deadly attacks by IS in recent years. Authorities said the suspects had links to both domestic and international terrorism networks, underscoring ongoing threats from extremist groups.
What To Know
Police conducted raids on 124 locations across Istanbul, capturing 115 of the 137 individuals named in arrest warrants. Several pistols, ammunition and organisational materials were seized, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement quoted by the Associated Press.
Some of the suspects had participated in overseas conflicts, while others were already wanted for terrorism-related offenses at national and international levels. Authorities continue efforts to apprehend the remaining 22 suspects, according to Euronews.
The Ankara provincial gendarmerie previously warned on December 19 that IS might carry out attacks in Ankara and Istanbul before New Year’s Eve, potentially targeting crowded shopping centers and public markets through armed assaults, suicide bombings, car bombs, drone strikes, or vehicle-ramming incidents.
Authorities also reported that 10 suspects linked to IS’s financial networks in Ankara were detained earlier this week. Investigators found that cash transfers to IS members and their families in Syria were disguised under explanations such as “call for unity, atonement, aid for captive sisters,” based on analyses of bank records and social media.
Turkey has a history of deadly IS attacks, including the 2015 Ankara peace rally bombing that killed at least 102 people, the 2017 Reina nightclub shooting during New Year celebrations that left 39 dead, and assaults on Atatürk Airport, Suruç, and Diyarbakır between 2015 and 2017. Trials related to some of these attacks remain ongoing.
What People Are Saying
Turkish officials emphasized the operation as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts. The Istanbul Police said the raids were based on intelligence indicating IS members were planning attacks targeting non-Muslims during the festive season.
What Happens Next
Authorities continue to pursue the 22 remaining suspects and monitor IS activity across Istanbul and Ankara. Security measures for Christmas and New Year celebrations have been increased, with additional patrols and checkpoints in high-traffic areas, according to the prosecutor’s office and local police statements.
