More than 100 suspected ISIS members believed to have been planning attacks during the Christmas and New Year season have been arrested in Turkey, authorities said on Thursday.
The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office said police obtained information that members of the terrorist group were plotting attacks on non-Muslims in particular, during the Christian celebrations in Turkey.
Police arrested 115 of 137 suspects in a series of raids across Istanbul, seized pistols and ammunition.
Some of the suspects were already wanted on terrorism charges at national and international levels, the prosecutor's office said.
The arrests come days after Turkish authorities conducted a major intelligence-led operation at the Afghanistan–Pakistan border and captured a Turkish citizen accused of having a senior position in ISIS.
The suspect, identified as Mehmet Goren, allegedly helped plan suicide attacks targeting civilians in Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Europe.
Intelligence officials said Mr Goren had travelled from Turkey to the Afghanistan–Pakistan border region, where he operated in ISIS camps and rose through the group’s hierarchy.
The terrorist group has carried out several deadly attacks in Turkey.
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