Istanbul police raided 124 locations on Thursday, seizing weapons and documents as authorities warn of planned attacks during the festive period.
Turkish police detained 115 suspected members of the Islamic State terrorist group (IS) on Thursday after raids targeting alleged plots to attack Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Istanbul’s chief prosecutor said authorities issued arrest warrants for 137 suspects allegedly preparing attacks during the festive period.
Police raided 124 addresses across Istanbul, detaining 115 people while efforts to capture the remaining 22 suspects continue.
Officers seized pistols, ammunition and organisational documents during the searches. The prosecutor’s office said some suspects had been linked to participation in conflicts and others faced arrest warrants for terrorism offences at national and international level.
Ankara’s provincial gendarmerie command warned on 19 December that IS might carry out attacks in Ankara and Istanbul before New Year’s Eve.
The warning said the group planned simultaneous attacks targeting shopping centres and public markets, potentially through armed attacks, suicide bombings, car bombs, drone strikes or vehicle-ramming incidents.
