Turkish authorities have arrested 115 suspected members of the Islamic State group over alleged plans to carry out attacks during Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Prosecutors in Istanbul said the arrests followed coordinated raids on 124 locations across the city, during which security operatives recovered firearms, ammunition and what they described as “organisational documents”.
In a statement, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said intelligence reports showed that IS supporters were actively planning attacks this week, particularly targeting non-Muslims.
“Police operations carried out simultaneously at identified addresses resulted in the detention of 115 suspects. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend 22 other suspects,” the statement said.
The prosecutor’s office added that the suspects were in contact with IS operatives outside Turkey and were receiving directives linked to planned attacks.
The development comes barely two days after Turkish intelligence operatives arrested a Turkish national during an operation along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The suspect is alleged to be a senior member of an IS affiliate in the region and was accused of planning attacks against civilians.
Turkey’s security agencies have continued to intensify operations against extremist groups, particularly IS, which has carried out several deadly attacks in the country in past years.
Turkey shares a long border with Syria, where remnants of the group are still active. Syria’s President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who maintains close ties with Ankara, has pledged cooperation with the United States and European countries to eliminate remaining IS elements.
The arrests also come amid heightened international security concerns after the United States launched air strikes on IS targets in Syria following the killing of three Americans earlier this month. Two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter were reportedly killed in an ambush blamed on IS gunmen.
