'Terrorists' suspected of plotting ISIS attacks arrested in Turkey

Turkish authorities have arrested dozens of people in sweeping counter-terrorism raids amid fears the Islamic State group was planning attacks targeting Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Police from Istanbul's Counter-Terrorism Department carried out simultaneous operations at 124 locations across the city early on Thursday, detaining 115 suspects believed to be linked to the extremist group. 

Warrants had been issued for 137 people in total, with efforts ongoing to track down the remaining suspects, prosecutors said.

In a statement, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said investigators had received intelligence indicating that the Islamic State had issued a call to action encouraging attacks, particularly against non-Muslims, during the festive period.

Authorities said the suspects were actively preparing attacks linked to upcoming public celebrations.

During the raids, officers seized firearms, ammunition, and what officials described as 'organisational documents' connected to the group. 

The counter-terrorism operation is continuing, according to police. 

Prosecutors said the detained suspects were in contact with Islamic State operatives outside Turkey, raising concerns about cross-border coordination and external direction. 

Officials did not disclose specific targets but said the alleged plots were aimed at crowded events during the Christmas and New Year period. 

The arrests came just days after Turkish intelligence services announced a separate operation targeting Islamic State networks beyond the country’s borders. 

Earlier this week, Turkish agents detained a Turkish national accused of holding a senior position within an IS-linked group operating along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. He is suspected of helping plan attacks against civilians. 

Turkey has been repeatedly targeted by the Islamic State in the past and continues to face security risks due to its geographic position. 

The country shares a nearly 900-kilometre border with Syria, where remnants of the group remain active despite years of military pressure.

Turkish security forces regularly conduct raids against suspected IS cells, particularly in major cities such as Istanbul, which has previously been hit by deadly attacks. 

In 2016 and 2017, Islamic State carried out bombings and shootings across Turkey, including an attack on a New Year’s Eve nightclub in Istanbul that killed 39 people.

The latest arrests also come amid renewed international concern over a resurgence of Islamic State activity across multiple regions. 

Western intelligence agencies have warned that the group has been attempting to rebuild its operational capacity in parts of Syria and Iraq, while also expanding networks in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of Africa.  

In Syria, the group has stepped up ambushes and attacks against both local forces and international targets. 

Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who maintains close ties with Ankara, has pledged to work alongside the United States and European partners to eliminate remaining IS cells.

The United States has also intensified its military response. Last week, US forces launched a wave of air strikes against Islamic State positions in Syria following the killing of three Americans earlier this month. 

Two US soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed when IS gunmen ambushed a patrol, according to US officials.

On December 14, two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration, killing 15 people in Australia. The alleged shooters are said to have pledged allegiance to IS. 

Last week, officials in Poland revealed that an attack on a Christmas market had been foiled.