Turkey Foils IS-Linked Christmas, New Year Attacks, Arrests Over 100 Suspects

Turkey Foils IS-Linked Christmas, New Year Attacks, Arrests Over 100 Suspects

Turkish authorities have disrupted planned Islamic State (IS) attacks targeting Christmas and New Year events after arresting more than 100 suspected IS members in coordinated raids across Istanbul.

The raids, conducted at 124 addresses, led to the seizure of firearms, ammunition, and organisational documents, according to the city’s chief prosecutor. Officials said the suspects were actively planning attacks across Turkey, particularly against non-Muslim communities, and were in contact with IS operatives abroad.

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Police detained 115 suspects, while efforts continue to track an additional 22 individuals. The announcement follows a recent Turkish intelligence operation on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, which targeted IS operatives in the region. A Turkish national with alleged senior IS connections was detained for planning attacks against civilians.

Turkey, which shares a 900km border with Syria, regularly carries out operations against individuals with suspected IS ties, as remnants of the group continue to operate in parts of Syria.

In related developments, Syria’s president Ahmed al-Sharaa pledged cooperation with the US and Europe to eliminate remaining IS elements. The United States recently launched airstrikes against IS positions in Syria following the killing of three Americans, including two soldiers and a civilian interpreter, in an IS ambush earlier this month.

Authorities emphasized that the foiled attacks demonstrate Turkey’s ongoing commitment to national security and counterterrorism efforts.

Turkey Foils IS-Linked Christmas, New Year Attacks, Arrests Over 100 Suspects

BBC