Turkish authorities have detained 115 people suspected of links to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), after intelligence indicated possible attacks during Christmas and New Year celebrations, İstanbul’s chief prosecutor said Thursday.
The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said the prosecutor ordered the detention of 137 suspects and police had taken 115 into custody so far.
Turkey borders Syria, where ISIL and other armed extremist groups remain active, and Turkey has faced past attacks blamed on ISIL.
This week, Turkey’s intelligence agency also captured a Turkish national near the Afghanistan Pakistan border area and brought him to Turkey, Turkish media reported. The suspect, Mehmet Gören, was accused of helping organize planned suicide attacks targeting civilians in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey and Europe.
© Agence France-Presse