Turkey has arrested 125 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) group in fresh nationwide security operations, as authorities intensify efforts to prevent possible attacks during the holiday season.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the suspects were detained on Wednesday during simultaneous raids carried out in 25 provinces across the country. The latest arrests bring the total number of IS suspects detained in the past week to nearly 600.
Security agencies stepped up operations after intelligence reports warned that IS militants were planning attacks during Christmas and New Year celebrations. On Christmas Day alone, 115 suspects were arrested following such warnings, according to the Istanbul prosecutor’s office.
The crackdown has not been without violence. During a separate operation on Monday in the northwestern coastal town of Yalova, suspected IS militants opened fire on police officers. Three officers were killed and nine others injured in the attack. Security forces responded, killing six militants after a gun battle that lasted several hours.
A day after the Yalova incident, authorities arrested another 357 suspects linked to IS in raids carried out in 21 provinces.
The recent operations follow the arrest of a senior Turkish IS member on December 22 near the Afghanistan–Pakistan border. The suspect, identified as Mehmet Goren, is accused of planning suicide attacks in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, and parts of Europe.
Turkey remains on high alert due to past attacks by the extremist group. On January 1, 2017, an IS gunman carried out a deadly New Year’s attack at a nightclub in Istanbul, killing 39 people, most of them foreign nationals. The attacker was later captured and sentenced to multiple life terms.
In a strong warning to extremist groups, Minister Yerlikaya said anyone attempting to threaten Turkey would “face the strength of the state and the unity of the nation.” Authorities say investigations and security operations will continue to ensure public safety.
