Turkish authorities say they have disrupted planned attacks on Christmas and New Year's events after arresting more than 100 suspected members of the so-called Islamic State group.
Mass raids were carried out at 124 addresses across Istanbul, the capital's chief prosecutor said, with firearms, ammunition, and organisational documents seized.
Officials stated IS supporters had been actively plotting attacks across Turkey this week, specifically targeting non-Muslims.
Police detained 115 suspects, but efforts are ongoing to trace a further 22, according to an official statement.
The prosecutor's office reported that the suspects maintained contact with IS operatives outside Turkey. This announcement follows a recent Turkish intelligence raid against IS on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, leading to the arrest of a Turkish national alleged to be a senior figure in the group's regional operations, accused of planning attacks against civilians.
Turkey’s security forces consistently target individuals suspected of having ties to IS, especially given its extensive border with Syria, where the group continues to operate in certain areas.
In a collaborative effort, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has pledged to cooperate with the US and European countries to eradicate the remnants of IS. This comes alongside recent US airstrikes targeting IS positions in Syria, particularly after the killing of three Americans by IS militants during an ambush earlier this month.
