In a significant crackdown on terrorism, Turkish authorities have detained over a hundred individuals linked to the Islamic State (ISIS). The arrests come amidst fears of planned attacks during the festive season, targeting non-Muslim communities.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office revealed that it responded to intelligence about an ISIS call to action by issuing 137 arrest warrants. This led to the detention of 115 suspected members of the terror group. The police conducted operations at 124 separate locations.
In addition to the arrests, law enforcement officials seized firearms, ammunition, and various organizational documents, disrupting potential terror activities.
ISIS has historically employed a dual strategy for its operations. While it occasionally orchestrates large-scale attacks akin to al-Qaeda’s methods, such as the 2015 Bataclan assault in Paris, it also inspires lone wolf attacks. A notable example of the latter is the 2017 Westminster Bridge incident.
Since the downfall of the ISIS caliphate, many of its suspected members have sought refuge in Turkey, taking advantage of the country’s extensive 559-mile border with Syria.
In a related operation, Turkish intelligence successfully captured Mehmet Goren near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Goren, a Turkish national, is accused of orchestrating suicide attacks across multiple regions, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, and Europe. He allegedly collaborated with Ozgur Altun, who was earlier detained for facilitating the movement of ISIS members to the Afghanistan-Pakistan area.
Turkey has endured numerous ISIS-related terror attacks. Since 2014, the nation has experienced at least 20 incidents attributed to or suspected of involving ISIS. These range from minor border skirmishes to major events like the devastating 2015 Ankara suicide bombings, which resulted in 109 fatalities.
From 2017 to 2024, the frequency of such incidents decreased significantly. This reduction is attributed to the effective measures taken by Turkish security forces, which included the arrest of thousands and the prevention of various plots, such as planned assaults on religious sites in 2023.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
