Turkey’s interior minister said that 29 people have been detained over suspected links to the Islamic State, thwarting attacks on Jewish and Christian places of worship in Istanbul.
Special forces members of the Turkish police secure the area near the Interior Ministry following a bomb attack in Ankara on Oct. 1, 2023.
– ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images
December 29, 2023
ANKARA — Turkish security forces detained 29 individuals over suspected links to the Islamic State, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Friday. The people were allegedly planning attacks on synagogues and churches in Istanbul.
Yerlikaya said the suspects were rounded up in raids in nine provinces including in Istanbul and the capital Ankara as part of an operation dubbed “Heroes-37.”
He added the joint operation by Turkish police and the National Intelligence Agency was put together after the authorities established that the suspects were carrying out reconnaissance activities in synagogues and churches in Istanbul.
DEAŞ Terör Örgütüne yönelik İstanbul merkezli 9️⃣ ilde düzenlenen “KAHRAMANLAR-37” Operasyonunda 2️⃣9️⃣ Şahıs Yakalandı❗
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Terör Örgütleri ve onların İş Birlikçileriyle mücadelemiz kararlılıkla devam edecek❗
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❌MİT Başkanlığı ile Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü İstihbarat Başkanlığı ve… pic.twitter.com/xfu2gbrKT1
— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) December 29, 2023
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