Turkish security forces nab Daesh, al-Nusra Front suspects in Ankara, Adana
Authorities detained 11 suspects linked to the terrorist groups Daesh and al-Nusra Front in the southern city of Adana on Thursday while six Daesh suspects apprehended in earlier operations in the capital Ankara were arrested.
In Adana, which is situated near Turkey's Syrian border, some 500 officers from the anti-terror police and elite Special Operations unit stormed 19 locations in dawn raids. Suspects, including foreigners and an underage suspect, were among those detained while detention warrants were issued for 10 others.
According to authorities the suspects are currently being questioned by police before their transfer to court.
In Ankara, six people, who were detained two days ago in capital's Sincan suburb, were remanded in custody for their links to Daesh.
The suspects are accused of providing "logistical support to the terrorist group in Syria" and recruiting militants for Daesh. Police have found Daesh propaganda material in the possession of the arrested suspects.
Recent anti-Daesh operations in Adana had netted a senior Daesh member accused of recruiting militants from Europe as well as a Canadian national linked to the terrorist group.
Syrian national Sahwan Qahwati was arrested on Wednesday after his capture following his entry into Turkey on March 15. Moreover, authorities have detected links between Qahwati and two other senior Daesh members, Danish citizen Mahamad Laban, who was captured in Adana on Feb. 10, and Swedish citizen Mohammed Tefik Saleh.
Turkey last year arrested 1,338 suspects, including 694 foreigners, for having links to the Daesh terrorist group. In addition, a total of 339 major terror plots were prevented as a result of the seizure of 247 explosives and 61 bomb vehicles in 2016.
Following a New Year's attack at a popular Istanbul nightclub where 39 people were killed by a Daesh gunman, Turkey launched nationwide operations that have netted hundreds of suspects.
Turkey has also killed a large number of militants in Operation Euphrates Shield in Syria where the Free Syrian Army (FSA) was being supported by the Turkish military in its fight to retake towns captured by the terrorist group.
In Adana, which is situated near Turkey's Syrian border, some 500 officers from the anti-terror police and elite Special Operations unit stormed 19 locations in dawn raids. Suspects, including foreigners and an underage suspect, were among those detained while detention warrants were issued for 10 others.
According to authorities the suspects are currently being questioned by police before their transfer to court.
In Ankara, six people, who were detained two days ago in capital's Sincan suburb, were remanded in custody for their links to Daesh.
The suspects are accused of providing "logistical support to the terrorist group in Syria" and recruiting militants for Daesh. Police have found Daesh propaganda material in the possession of the arrested suspects.
Recent anti-Daesh operations in Adana had netted a senior Daesh member accused of recruiting militants from Europe as well as a Canadian national linked to the terrorist group.
Syrian national Sahwan Qahwati was arrested on Wednesday after his capture following his entry into Turkey on March 15. Moreover, authorities have detected links between Qahwati and two other senior Daesh members, Danish citizen Mahamad Laban, who was captured in Adana on Feb. 10, and Swedish citizen Mohammed Tefik Saleh.
Turkey last year arrested 1,338 suspects, including 694 foreigners, for having links to the Daesh terrorist group. In addition, a total of 339 major terror plots were prevented as a result of the seizure of 247 explosives and 61 bomb vehicles in 2016.
Following a New Year's attack at a popular Istanbul nightclub where 39 people were killed by a Daesh gunman, Turkey launched nationwide operations that have netted hundreds of suspects.
Turkey has also killed a large number of militants in Operation Euphrates Shield in Syria where the Free Syrian Army (FSA) was being supported by the Turkish military in its fight to retake towns captured by the terrorist group.