Turkey Detains 115 Alleged IS Members

12:20

Turkey Detains 115 Alleged IS Members

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In Istanbul, 115 people suspected of belonging to the Islamic State organization were arrested as part of a large-scale counterterrorism operation, with authorities claiming to have foiled plans for attacks targeting Christmas and New Year celebrations amid a high threat level in Turkey and Europe. ©KEMAL ASLAN / AFP

Some 115 alleged members of the Islamic State group suspected of planning attacks during the end of year holidays have been arrested in Turkey, Istanbul's prosecutor general said Thursday.

"Following intelligence indicating that the IS terrorist organization was planning attacks during Christmas and New Year celebrations," the prosecutor's office ordered the detention of 137 people, 115 of whom have been arrested, the Istanbul prosecutor general's office said in a statement.

Turkey shares a 900-kilometer (559-mile) border with Syria, where jihadist groups are still active and where the IS was accused of an attack in mid-December that killed two US soldiers and one civilian.

AFP

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