Turkey Arrests 115 Islamic State Suspects Over Alleged Christmas, New Year Attack Plots

Turkish security forces have detained 115 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in coordinated raids across the country, following intelligence that the network was plotting attacks during the Christmas and New Year festive period, PulseNets learnt on Thursday.

State broadcaster TRT reported that a total of 137 suspects are being sought in connection with the alleged terror plot, with international arrest warrants already issued for those who remain at large. The broadcaster said the suspects are believed to be part of a broader IS-linked cell operating both within and outside Turkey.

According to information obtained by PulseNets, the nationwide operation was spearheaded by counterterrorism units in Istanbul after security agencies uncovered plans targeting non-Muslim individuals and crowded holiday gatherings.

During simultaneous raids on multiple addresses, police recovered pistols and documents believed to be linked to extremist activities, investigators told PulseNets.

Authorities further disclosed that several of the detained suspects were in communication with IS operatives based in active conflict zones, raising concerns about cross-border coordination and external support for the planned attacks.

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Turkey has in recent years intensified security operations against suspected Islamic State networks, carrying out frequent arrests and surveillance actions aimed at disrupting potential threats before they materialise.

The urgency of such operations remains underscored by past attacks, including the January 2017 assault on a popular Istanbul nightclub during New Year’s Eve celebrations, an attack claimed by IS that left 39 people dead.

(dpa/NAN)