Turkey detains 20 ISIL-linked terror suspects

Turkey detains 20 ISIL-linked terror suspects

At least 20 people were detained on Oct. 28 in the capital Ankara for their suspected links to the ISIL terrorist organization, a security source said.

The suspects, all foreign nationals, were arrested in a joint operation by counterterrorism units of the provincial police department and the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MİT), state-run Anadolu Agency was told by the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

They were taken under custody from their hideouts spread across the city.

They will be referred to the migration office for deportation, the source added.

Turkey recognized ISIL as a terrorist organization in 2013.

Since then, Turkey has been attacked by ISIL terrorists numerous times, including in 10 suicide bombings, seven bombings, and four armed attacks.

These attacks killed 315 people, including 11 police officers and two soldiers, and injured 137 civilians, 62 police officers and seven soldiers.

In response to these attacks, Turkey launched anti-terror operations at home and abroad.

In two cross-border military operations in Syria since 2016, Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch, Turkey neutralized 3,500 ISIL terrorists and arrested 5,500.

Source: Hurriyet Daily News