Turkish authorities announced Friday that they had apprehended a suspected IS member who was planning attacks against celebrations marking the start of the new year. It comes a day after the prosecutor’s office said authorities had carried out searches and arrested more than 100 people linked to the militant group.
The day before, the prosecutor’s office said that dozens of suspects had also been arrested.
The Associated Press ·
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Turkish police officers cross a street in Istanbul on November 29. This week, raids were carried out in dozens of locations in the capital and more than 100 suspected ISIS members were captured. (Dilara Acisgov/Associated Press)
Turkish authorities said Friday they had apprehended a suspected member of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) who was planning attacks against celebrations marking the start of the new year.
State-run Anadolu Agency reported that Ibrahim Burtakucin was captured during a joint operation by police and the National Intelligence Agency in the southeastern city of Malatya.
Security officials told Anadolu that Burtakucin was in contact with many ISIS sympathizers in Turkey and abroad and was looking for an opportunity to join the ongoing fighting in conflict zones.
Authorities also seized digital materials and banned publications belonging to ISIS during the search of his home.
The arrest was reported a day after the Istanbul prosecutor’s office said Turkish authorities conducted simultaneous raids in which they arrested more than 100 suspected members of the militant group who allegedly planned attacks during holiday celebrations.
Istanbul police received information that IS members had planned attacks against non-Muslims in particular, the office reported on X.
During raids carried out in 124 locations in the Turkish capital, 115 of the 137 wanted suspects were captured and several pistols and ammunition were seized, the statement added.
