Turkey Foils ISIS Holiday Attack Plans with Over 100 Arrests
Turkey detains 115 suspected IS members plotting attacks on Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Turkish security forces have detained more than 100 suspected members of the Islamic State group in Istanbul, thwarting what authorities say were planned attacks targeting Christmas and New Year celebrations. The arrests followed a series of large-scale, coordinated raids carried out across the city on Thursday.
According to a statement from the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, intelligence indicated that the extremist group had issued calls for violent action, particularly against non-Muslims, during the festive period. Acting on this information, prosecutors issued arrest warrants for 137 suspects believed to be linked to the network.
Police detained 115 individuals during simultaneous operations at 124 locations across Istanbul. During the raids, officers seized firearms, ammunition, and various documents believed to be connected to the group’s activities, underscoring the seriousness of the alleged threat.
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The arrests come amid heightened regional counterterrorism efforts. In recent days, the Trump administration launched extensive military strikes in neighbouring Syria, targeting Islamic State fighters and weapons sites following an ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and an American civilian interpreter.
Syrian security forces have also intensified operations against IS cells, including raids near Damascus that reportedly led to the capture of the group’s local leader, Taha al-Zoubi, and the killing of senior commander Mohammed Shahadeh. Turkish officials have meanwhile held talks in Syria this week to strengthen coordination on counterterrorism.
Although the Islamic State lost its territorial stronghold in Iraq and Syria by late 2019, authorities warn that the group remains a persistent threat. Cells operating across multiple countries continue to plan and execute attacks, prompting ongoing vigilance and security operations across the region.
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