Turkish security forces have launched one of their biggest crackdowns in recent days, sweeping across the country to arrest hundreds of people suspected of links to the Islamic State group.
On Tuesday, police carried out coordinated raids in 21 provinces, including major cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Yalova. By the end of the operation, 357 suspects had been taken into custody, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. He shared the update on social media but did not go into detail about the individuals arrested.
The raids followed a violent confrontation just one day earlier in Yalova, a province in northwestern Turkey. Police stormed a house believed to be used as an ISIS hideout, triggering a deadly gun battle. Three police officers and six suspected ISIS members were killed. Eight more officers and a night guard were injured during the clash.
Authorities say these operations were launched after intelligence reports warned of possible ISIS attacks planned around Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. Security forces have been on high alert, moving quickly to prevent any threats before they could happen.
In Istanbul alone, prosecutors said police raided more than 100 locations and detained 110 suspects. Some of those arrested were reportedly connected to the militants involved in the Yalova shootout. Others were suspected of planning attacks during the holiday season.
Investigators also believe several detainees were raising money by pretending to run charities, then secretly sending those funds to ISIS-linked groups in Syria.
In the capital, Ankara, police arrested 17 people, including 11 foreign nationals. Authorities said they found digital evidence tying the suspects to ISIS fighters active in conflict zones.
Turkey has been targeted by ISIS several times in the past. One of the deadliest attacks took place on New Year’s Day in 2017, when a gunman opened fire at a nightclub in Istanbul, killing 39 people.
Officials say the latest arrests are part of ongoing efforts to stop extremist networks before they can strike again.
