Istanbul, Turkey – Turkish police have detained 110 individuals suspected of having ties to the Islamic State (ISIS) in a large-scale operation spanning Istanbul and two additional provinces. The arrests follow a deadly clash northwest of the country where three police officers and six militants were killed.
The Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office announced the detentions, stating that authorities conducted 114 raids across the targeted regions. The operation sought 115 suspects, with 110 successfully apprehended. Authorities also seized a variety of digital documents and files during the raids.
The crackdown comes a day after an eight-hour security lockdown in Yalova, a town on the Marmara Sea coast south of Istanbul. During the operation, eight police officers and one security personnel were injured. This followed the detention of over 100 individuals a week prior, suspected of planning attacks during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period.
Turkish authorities have intensified operations against suspected ISIS members this year. The recent actions also come amid increased global focus on the group. Last week, the United States conducted an operation against ISIS militants in northwestern Nigeria. In Australia, police have indicated that the perpetrators of an attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney were inspired by the group.
In December, the U.S. military announced strikes targeting dozens of ISIS targets in Syria in response to an attack on American military personnel. ISIS has previously claimed responsibility for multiple deadly attacks in Turkey, including a mass shooting at an Istanbul nightclub and a bombing at the city’s main airport, resulting in numerous fatalities.
